Here are 5 interesting facts about birds from Matt Ridley's new book

Black grouse male

Black grouse and the lek

When it is mating season for the black grouse males, they gather in a flock at fixed spots between March and June and wait for the first light. This phenomenon is called a lek. At the break of dawn, the males dance and sing for hours, preparing for the females to arrive. When the females do, frequently from their neighbouring flocks, they leap into the air with what Ridley calls a ‘flutter-jump'. This is accompanied by a call that sounds like a "Tshu-wee"; it's between a sneeze, a hiss, a squawk, and a screech. In the dark, these black grouse males are identifiable through their white bottoms, which resemble chrysanthemums.

Riddle of the ruffs

Ruff. Pics Courtesy/Youtube

Ruffs are birds found across Eurasia. Ridley spots them in Arctic Norway. They look rather Elizabethan because of the ruff of feathers around their necks that act like ornaments. Ridley notices that each male ruff is distinct; no two wear the same outfit. Their feathers can vary in colour; they can have different patterns (flecked, plain, striped). Their head tufts can be of a different colour and pattern as well. Additionally, they have wattles around their eyes and beaks that can be shades of red, yellow, or orange, setting them apart from their fellow ruffs.

Peacock displays

Peacock plumage. Pic Courtesy/Wikimedia Commons

Ridley visited North India to confirm peacock behaviour and patterns. He notes that in peafowls, males display when a female approaches, but they do not follow it when it leaves. Females enjoy their freedom and wander about. Males are territorial among themselves, and stick to their own patches and spots. During displaying hours, when a peacock observes a peahen approaching, it makes an alcove in a bush and faces away to conceal a part of itself. When the peahen is close enough, it puts on a show by turning around and displaying all its feathers in full glory.

Curlews and composers

Long billed curlew. Pic Courtesy/Wikimedia Commons

To Ridley's ears, curlews sound like trained western classical singers during their mating season. They sing complex songs, and their crescendos are joyous. Ridley compares their call to genius composer Beethoven's phrases. A curlew's ode to joy begins with a slow single chord like that of a cello. It then rises and speeds up till the chords break into a "rich bubbling trill". Much like humans, curlews prefer pure notes over squawks and harmonies over disharmonies. They are nature's composers and share ideas of beauty in music with humans.

Matt Ridley

Shape-shifting lophorinas

Vogelkop Superb Lophorina. Pic Courtesy/Youtube

The super-black feathers of the Superb Lophorinas contain deep, curved cavities that capture all light and release none of it. With no reflected light, the male appears as though it vanished within its feathers during the display. We can only see two little dots (its eyes) and a fluorescent blue-green smile. It bounces back and forth on its log, to impress the female, with loud clicks.

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