Scientists have found out that female birds choose the most agile birds, not the smartest ones

It's about the mating dance, which turned out to signal endurance rather than intelligence.

Details

The study was conducted by scientists from the University of Montreal on zebra amadins, small birds in which males actively attract females by dancing.

First, the researchers observed which males the females chose more often. It turned out that birds with more complex and expressive dances arouse the most interest.

Then the scientists tested the males' cognitive abilities using standardised tests. For example, the birds were taught to associate a certain colour with food - this allows us to assess learning and the speed of assimilation of new information.

It turned out that males with a more complex dance are really more attractive to females and are in better physical shape. They coordinate movements better, look more robust and energetic. At the same time, researchers have not found a convincing link between the complexity of the dance and general intelligence.

In other words, a spectacular dance shows that a male is healthy and well-developed physically, but not necessarily smarter than others.

Why it matters

The work clarifies how sexual selection works in animals.

It shows that it is not abstract "mental ability" that matters in mate selection, but more specific signals related to survival and offspring quality. Good coordination, energy and physical condition can tell a female that a male is better able to forage for food, avoid danger and participate in the care of offspring.

It also challenges the idea that complex mating rituals are directly related to the development of general intelligence.

Background

Scientists had previously observed that females in different animal species sometimes prefer partners with better cognitive abilities. But it remained unclear exactly what external cues allow this to be recognised.

The new study shows that in the case of zebra amadins, the dance is likely to reflect physical condition rather than overall intelligence.

Source

The study is published in the journal Biology Letters (2025). The authors studied the relationship between mating dance complexity, fitness, learning ability and attractiveness of male zebra amadins.