Love is an intense feeling of affection towards another individual. It is normally [although not fairly —Ed.] associated with humans as it requires a certain level of intelligence to perform and a great deal of dedication to maintain.
Which is why it is fascinating when we see glimpses of love in the other creatures that we share our planet with. As a wild Bird photographer, I have been lucky to witness a lot of these amazing behaviors from our native Birds.
Here are some of the many unique ways Philippine Birds show love and affection.
INSEPARABLE PAIRS
Some Philippine Birds, once paired, would venture into the forest, doing much of their daily routine together: foraging, hunting, preening, and even just scanning the surroundings.
This pair of Luzon Flameback Woodpeckers is no different, as you can see them feeding together.
ALLOPREENING
Birds often use their daily activities to socialize with others of the same species. One such activity is preening, which is the act of cleaning and straightening a Bird’s feathers with their beaks.
Birds like this Chestnut-Faced Babbler would help preen their partners as a sign of affection, strengthening the bond of the pair.
THE COURTSHIP DANCE
Some Birds would go up a notch and impress their partners with a dance. Oftentimes, it is the male that does all the dancing.
But for Raptors, such as this pair of Philippine Serpent Eagles, they would engage in a stunning display to reinforce their bond as a pair.
COURTSHIP FEEDING
Courtship feeding is the act of offering food to your partner to gain their approval to mate. This behavior is not limited to Birds who have not been paired before. Sometimes, this is done even by established pairs of Birds.
Take the pair of Dimorphic Dwarf Kingfishers in the photo, for example. This pair has bred several times already but would still engage in courtship feeding. This behavior is a good indication that they are preparing to breed again.
This Bird behavior is also commonly misunderstood as two Birds kissing. Take this pair of Philippine Cuckoo Doves, for example. As the female Dove begs its partner for food and the male tries to feed her, it can look like they are kissing, but they are probably just engaged in courtship feeding.
THE “AKBAY”
There was this one time we were observing a pair of Mantanani Scops Owls as they were mating. We noticed the male Owl placed his wing on the female’s shoulder in what looks like an “akbay” in Filipino, reassuring his partner before proceeding to mate with her.
The female then flew to another branch, with the male following her to do the same mating routine all over again.
THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE
We cannot talk about love and affection without mentioning the Hornbills. They are widely regarded as a symbol of eternal love and fidelity, which stems from their remarkable breeding strategy and family bond.
The female Hornbill would make a nest by plucking all her flight feathers, rendering her flightless as she raises her chicks. She would then imprison herself by sealing most of the entrance to the nest apart from a small peep hole.
The male would then care for the whole family on his own, tirelessly foraging for food and protecting the nest from other predators until their chicks are ready to leave the nest.
In some Hornbill species, such as the Philippine Rufous Hornbill, the family becomes a flock. The adult members of the flock would take turns caring for their younger members until they forge pairs of their own.
ROUND-THE-CLOCK CARE
Nesting is probably the most dangerous and stressful stage in a Bird’s life. Both parents would tirelessly feed the chicks, clean the nest, and fend off other Birds in the area.
I once observed a nest of Black-Naped Monarchs from sunrise to sunset. And I can attest to how both parents would look for food and do their parental duties round the clock until it was too dark to venture out.
NOT EXCLUSIVE TO HUMANS
Is love reserved just for humans? I’d say — cue music — love is a many-species thing. Many of our Philippine Birds would probably agree.
