Wooing Bug

Описание: This is an example of a male peafowl trying to woo a female peafowl who is NOT interested in his advances. He is trying VERY HARD to stand perfectly still and bow to her to prove he is not a threat, and she is telling him (politely!) to HECK OFF because she doesn't like him.

The signs here are subtle and can be mistaken for other behavior. Normally, when a hen approves of a male wooing her, she will inspect his face, close her eyes, she may gently peck around his face or neck (either actually parasite picking or telling him she would if she saw anything). She will be relaxed, she may inspect where the tip of his beak points in case he's maybe got treats as an offering to her. She may choose to lay down and invite him to loaf with her, which is a common social bonding activity for them.

Bug (the hen in this video) is showing signs of stress about his proximity. She is stanced to be able to fight (braced with her legs planted FIRMLY on the ground, keel lower than normal standing height). She is making soft warning noises, she is keeping her head up the majority of the time, and feinting (making small movements that indicate an incoming attack, but without following through). She is also ripping the heads off of clover and clover flowers and throwing them down- this is an act of aggression and a very clear warning that he better heck off or she will make him.

Earl, the male in this video, is trying incredibly hard to be good enough to win her over. He's standing perfectly still, he's keeping his head down, he's keeping his eyes closed. Even when she pecks at him hard, he moves his head but he doesn't act threateningly back. Her chicks come over to inspect him and he completely ignores them, no aggressive reaction to them either. He's being a picture perfect gentleman, it's just that Bug doesn't like him.

I did get up and move her away from him after this video, but I wanted to get a film of the behavior, for reference for others.