This is Bird Note. The golden-headed mannequin is a tiny bird with dance moves that would

turn a pop star green with envy. Joanne Ryan, a nature educator who lives in Trinidad,

tells us more about this bird's remarkable breeding display.

The air is still under the forest canopy in Trinidad. A golden-headed mannequin sits

a little but patient. His golden yellow head flicks to the left, then to the right. There

she is, an attractive little ball of olive green feathers approaches. Her plumage at star

contrast to the bright head and black body of the male blends in with the vulgar foliage.

But she is the center of the male's attention. He may be small, but he puts on a big shoe.

He revs his engine and does from his push above ground towards an even higher branch.

Quickly, he swoops back down, while singing staccato notes that increase in tempo.

As soon as he lands, he lowers his chest and raises his tail, revealing colorful sides.

He slides backwards in a smooth, swift moonwalk, ending with an upward flick of his wings

and a fan of his tails. The female is captivated and won over. Competition is fierce here

on the display grounds of the male mannequin.

To learn more about the golden-headed mannequin, visit our website, birdnotes.org.