29 Eye-catching feathers To attract a mate, the male Raggiana bird of paradise performs a beautiful bowing dance and throws his plumes wide open. Inflatable pouch The male frigate bird keeps his brilliant red throat pouch inflated for many hours to attract a mate. Dancing on water Great crested grebes perform a sequence of bizarre courtship dances. They begin with a head-shaking dance, before diving to collect beakfuls of water weed. The birds then paddle furiously as they present the weed to each other. Bright beak The brilliant colours on puffins’ beaks are at their brightest during the breeding season. The colour lies in a horny sheath covering the outside of the beak that falls off in the autumn. Defusing tension Although boobies nest in densely packed colonies, each bird will stab at any neighbour who dares to intrude on its private territory. When pairs meet, they jab and touch each other’s bill to defuse aggressive instincts. Miniature rivals Though tiny, male hummingbirds, fiercely defend their territories. Long, hooked beak aids in catching fish