Courtship exercises

A male common goldeneye (bucephala clangula, a winter guest in my country) just before practicing his courtship moves. This sea duck, a resident of more Northern countries, is an aggressive species with a predilection for crustaceans and insects, complemented with plants. It often shows off its courtship moves. This small series is inspired by the wonderful work of TmJ. Your comments are very welcome.

Vincent, each photograph in the series is splendid, so I chose this one for critique arbitrarily. First, a confession - -I've never seen this bird, and I've been totally ignorant of its nomenclature (sea duck and goldeneye). So thanks for the education. The bird's rather broad and noticeable wake indicates a show of intent and strength. He's motoring like this to let his intended mate know that he has everything it takes to make strong ducklings that are capable of surviving in the wild. The bird's colors contrast quite well with the water's, and the lighting and detail are spot on. - - My best always, michael

Hi Michael,

 

thank you for these great comments! What you say about its behavior is absolutely correct: 'He's motoring like this to let his intended mate know that he has everything it takes to make strong ducklings that are capable of surviving in the wild.' It's about finding a mate and starting a family, so serious stuff. Kind regards, Vincent