Dancing clowns: Display behaviour between two White-faced Robins Tregellasia leucops

摘要

Elaborate courtship and agonistic behaviours are common in some avian families. Here we describe an observation of ritualised 'dance' behaviour for the White-faced Robin Tregellasia leucops (Petroicidae) from Cape York Peninsula, Queensland. We also describe territorial and copulation behaviour for this species in the same region. It is unclear whether the ritualised dance behaviour is agonistic, courtship, or serves some other purpose. This is the first record of such a ritualised behaviour amongst the Australo-Papuan robins.