#eagle courtship ritual...

[jeonseoguu]

sorry i just think theyre so in love

COMMISSIONS OPEN !!! check my pinned post for more details ⭐️

[coldblooded-angel]

Okay, hear me out guys: Gryffindor!Patrick and Slytherin!Art as rival seekers.

Ex-bestfriends that went to quidditch camp together since they were kids but drifted apart once they got sorted into different houses.

Both in love with ex-pro quidditch Tashi who enrolls late into hogwarts and sorted into Slytherin. (Yes, she and Art date. Yes, she also has a history with Patrick)

[I also don’t have as much knowledge on Ilvermorny also I don’t think they have the insane house rivalry and I love that shit like air]

(I will never not be bitter over that mfing terf jk for ruining harry potter with her dumb fucking opinions so i operate under the reality that she is non-existent)

[post3l]

oh to be an eagle locking talons with my mate and spiraling down from a large height

[ssaanaaloves]

Death Spiral

an eagle courtship ritual where two of them soar up to high altitude, lock talons, and tumble and cartwheel toward Earth, letting go right before they hit the ground.

[alieliscious]

Guitarspear but eagle courtship ritual AKA cartwheeling

[dazed-and-confused23]

Free Falling

Summary: Instincts are weird as hell, especially when it comes to finding a mate.

Pairings: Hawks x Reader

Warnings: mhm none? Some kissing and some bird behavior is all.

It's well known that some birds of prey have a rather dangerous courtship ritual, and while Keigo is definitely human, the instincts that his quirk brings him are not to be ignored. So when he spots you, an American transfer hero with a wing quirk similar to his, Keigo couldn't ignore the way his bird brain screamed at him to talk to you, to get to know you.

You tuned out to be everything that Hawks has ever wanted. Understanding and kind, never one to turn down someone in need, and just all around a beautiful, free person. You were an excellent representation of your quirk, the bald eagle, and the more Hawks spent his time with you, the louder his instincts screamed at him. The hero had to have you as a mate.

The day the dam breaks is a day like any other. The two of you are flying through the air, chasing updrafts, and keeping an eye out for any kind of crime. However, even villains seemed to be enjoying the nice day, for there was nothing pressing that needed either of your attentions.

You are faster than Hawks, if only a tiny bit, and he pushes his wings to beat faster to catch up with you. He cackles in glee when you suddenly bank to the left, and he follows you into the dive. You turn, flashing Keigo a grin, and then you are reaching for him, hands clutching his own as you thread your fingers with his.

"Free Fall with me, Keigo!" You chirp, and how can the hero say no to that?

He tucks his wings close to his back and watches you do the same. Gravity takes hold of both of you, pulling you back to the surface so fast that the wind almost stings his cheeks. You laugh and giggle, eyes closed, and all it takes is for you to flick your wing, and then the two of you are spinning wildly.

Hawks knows what this is, had done his research into bald eagles when he realized that you were the only one for him. This was a courtship spiral. Just knowing that you want the same thing as he makes Keigo's heart soar to the heavens. Could you be any more perfect?

Down and down the two of you go, hands inching up until your arms were wrapped around his neck and his hands held you buy the hips. Keigo stares at you in awe, too caught up in the moment for his brain to properly work. That's okay, though. That's why you were here.

"Kiss me, Keigo!"

That gets the hero moving, and he surges forward, his lips meeting yours in a passionate kiss. Your lips are soft, and everything that Keigo had imagined. You kiss him back with gusto, hands clutching in his hair as you cling to him. The smile you wear when you pull back is full of affection and heat.

"Catch us, Keigo."

Hawks snaps his wings open and halts their rapid descent to the Earth. The free fall turns into a soft glide, and while the view is spectacular, he only has eyes for you. His arms clutch you tighter, his hind brain screaming at him to take the next step, but once again, you were already leading him there.

Your voice is sure, airy and light as you press your lips to his ear.

"Mate me, Keigo."

More Hawks -> HERE

Part 2 -> HERE

Even more Hawks -> HERE

[sunsetcougar]

If Charlie gets wings I want to see her and Vaggie doing the eagle courtship ritual of clasping talons/hands and spinning in a plummet

[crowsyart]

Mouthwashing bird list! Possible spoilers below

Curly-Golden Eagle

Hes this symbol of hope, something to be jealous of, to look up to and something powerful and majestic, but is also a predator. You just don't think about it.

Anya-Groove Billed Ani

A member of the cuckoo family, and also a bird that removes parasites/bugs from other larger animals(to eat obviously but ya know) so there’s that aspect of caring for others, plus the way Jimmy sees her as lesser ‘cuckoo’ and the way she isn’t believed. Also just a cool bird that looks like her.

Swansea- Chinese Goose

A swan was too easy, but I wanted to do something similar. Geese are tough and grumpy and hefty and it just kind of looks like him lol, but they’re also protective over their young. As well as a domestic/farm animal being raised for something(meat or eggs in this case I believe? But also some people use these geese as sort of guard geese lol) I feel like it relates back to him and his work ethic and purpose (or lack thereof) in life.

Daisuke- Great Crested Grebe

Okay it just looks like him like come on. But also I wanted the waterfowl to go alongside Swansea due to their relationship. They also look a bit silly but they’re capable from a young age, plus I’m sure there could be something said about their courtship rituals, it’s tiny but relating it to his line about babes lol.

Jimmy-Brown Jay

Something unremarkable. A member of the corvid family, so clever or seen to be clever. A pest. It’s Jimmy he sucks no offense to the bird I chose.

[thecosmiccrow]

I literally stumbled upon your account a couple of days ago, and I love your bird-base headcannons for the DDs so much. I wanted to tell you one of mine:

Bald eagles are known for having a courtship ritual in which they interlock talons spiral down large heights, and when I found out, I literally thought of N and Uzi interlocking hands and doing thr same. (I have brainrot bc of lack of content lmaooo)

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8AyEkBP/

i know its been months and months but. inbox

[fanaticsnail]

Aaaaaa!! I love the pretty bird series so far!!

My mind is running rampant with possibilities I love some miscommunication between species tropes

- I can't remember which type of bird (I think eagle?) but I know a species has a courting practice where they lock talons and dive through the sky before flying again, which I consider pretty romantic

- Avian Mihawk, doing research on human courting methods but his research is outdated bc time is fickle to fae

- Trying to give reader more and more extravagant animals for "dowry" ("three goats? How disgracefully frugal... Are mammoths still considered impressive?")

- Or giving up on human courting methods and grasping at straws thinking that if reader loves animals so much maybe he should try that and hope they recognize something

(Mihawk reading about giraffes:)

- "many female insects will kill their mates after copulation... So back to mammals it is"

- also, reader treating the crow as a diary in which they can dish without fear of judgement bc it's not like it's a human that can judge them (technically true)

- reader, sharing the goss from the market "so now her parents are getting divorced, her boyfriend slash possible biological father skips town, but guess who else conveniently disappears? Her sister!" Mihawk: :V

Mihawk, after he finally wooed (talked to without smelling every two seconds) his One True Mate (the human who was nice to him) into courtship and marriage (a Walk) and they forsake him (call another bird pretty) despite their fated bond (he hasn't revealed he's a bird):

The way I wasn't expecting "Pretty Bird" to become a series, but it's now just becoming such fun to think about.

Locking talons and diving, my heart 🫠.

Mihawk researching ancient courting rituals for humans and not interpreting the correct methods will never not be funny -> BUT, what if our reader accidentally initiates avarial courtship and shows her pretty bird a dress that she hasn't worn in a while, enjoying how the skirt twirls and fans outwards while she spins. Our Pretty Bird just going: "My human wants me. My mate desires me. This is my moment, my time has come. Even now, she dances for me."

Treating Pretty Bird as a diary, offering him trinkets and treats for listening to her woes. "The lord of high keep has invited me to work his field and establish his grounds for flowers. How do I tell him he scares me when he watches? How do I tell him his presence both enchants me and terrifies me. Oh, pretty bird, you're the only one who understands me." I can't, this is just too funny.

We all know Mihawk in all forms is a gossip-loving goth.

I just need to see how far I want to lean into the more animal-like instincts for him. He'd be so cute preening and grooming while his expression is stone-faced and cold. The duality of the man.

Also, I have missed you Snail! I hope life is treating you well, love!

[na-bird-of-the-day]

do you have any facts/ pics about red tailed hawks?

Well, a pretty well-known fact is that the commonly used bald eagle sound effect is actually the cry of a red-tailed hawk! Bald eagles don't screech like that, they make cute little chirps.

Something very cool about red-tailed hawks is their courtship rituals, where the male and female fly together in circles and may even do a "death spiral" where the male and female lock talons and spiral to the ground. Bald eagles do this too!

[badsciencejokes]

"But when it comes to courtship, bald eagles put the wild in wildlife.

The maneuver above—known as the cartwheel display or death spiral—is chief among their “spectacular courtship rituals,” says wildlife ecologist David Buehler of the University of Tennessee. “The two soar up to high altitude, lock talons, and tumble and cartwheel toward Earth.” They let go before reaching the ground—except when they don’t. In 2014 two adult eagles, talons locked, were found tangled in a Portland, Oregon, tree. (They eventually broke free and flew off.)

The courtship display is about “determining the fitness of your mate” and making that mate want to mate with you, Buehler says. “It’s like going out on the dance floor if you’re a really good dancer.”" Exerpt from @natgeo Patricia Edmonds.

Find more badsciencejokes posts on Instagram

[forestshadow-wolf]

Catch me and I'll follow — Soapghost wingfic

@rainerestored I can't think of any ways to pin this on you, but I'm still blaming you for it anyways 🥰

To say that cross-species relationships were shunned would not quite be correct. Was it a rarity to find? Yes.

But that's mostly due to differing courtship rituals. For example a pair of kestrels courtship behavior will obviously be different from some type of waterfowl courtship.

Obviously with dedication and a bit of hard work these differences can be bridged.

The beginning of Soap and Ghost's relationship was rocky to say the least. A hawk and an eagle? Not the largest species gap that's been heard of, but they've got their differences.

Ghost had to give credit where credit was due, and say soap's learning curve was steeper than his own. After all a straight freefall until just before sudden death just might be a bit harder than a game of follow the leader. Putting everything that wasn't physical aside, it was all about learning timing and coordination, and trusting your partner. There's also the added bonus of improving and learning new flight skills/ability

Old advice from generations back would have said to just scrap both courting rituals or to choose one (the easiest). But both soap and ghost have agreed that that only breed a hostile relationship that's destined to fail.

Meaningful courtship is important for maintaining a healthy relationship, especially if they aren't mono-spec. See, on ghost's end it was a show of trust and competence among other things. On soap's end it was it was a sign of willingness, and it builds a kind of understanding between partners. And for all multi-spec relationships it also shows a general dedication, and want for the relationship.

The put in the work and the hours. Did as much research as they could. Communicated their wants and needs, and what they could or could not do.

They started small. Soap took the initiative to start introducing himself to Ghost's traditions. The first time they did it was a 15 foot drop over water side by side, just to prove that they both could, and to see their limits. The next drop was higher, several wingspans higher, side by side.

The traditional method (the most dangerous) of the death spiral was for both partners to to fly way up high, all the way to their altitude limit, then they'd intertwine their legs, and free fall. Obviously physics caused the spinning due to differing weight. It was a massive show of strength, self-control, natural instinct, and trust, to accomplish a successful death spiral.

Now, in modern times, there is technology that makes such courtships much less dangerous. That's not to say the traditional method is no longer used. But interlocking flight boots did make cross-species courtship easier for some parties. The learning curve was still steep, but it was one step made just a bit easier.

After the were both comfortable with the companioned free fall they donned the interlocking boots and began to test out short spurts of joined free fall from high altitudes. At first they released after only a few short secinds of spinning, but slowly the time before they released grew longer and longer and the distance from the ground grew shorter.

Eventually after years of working at it, and practice, and repetition, it became almosts second nature to soap. To follow a only wingflap behind ghost as they rose higher and higher into the sky, then to lock themselves together, and let the wind scream past their ears as they spiraled towards the ground, so that they could release only a few wingspans away from sudden death.

Soap isn't the only one learning though, sure his job was harder, but that doesn't negate Ghost's efforts. He's never learned had to follow so close behind anyone before. He's never had to learn to swoop and dive in tandem with someone else, like he has to with soap. He's never had to follow and lead in this push-pull type of courting.

At first he felt clumsy, too large, not agile enough. It seemed like he bumped, and knocked into everything as he struggled to keep up with soap. He tangled and fought with brambles and branches. And when the broke free into open air he overshot, and soap struggled to keep close behind.

The first time they tried to fly together ghost shot into the air, and soap was panting by the time he'd caught up. Then soap dived down into the thicket of trees. Ghost had tried to follow right behind him, but he'd never had to fly in such close quarters before. He'd nearly flown face first into a bundle of branches, had to duck low to avoid it and had promptly gotten stuck in an overgrown thorn bush, and soap was dusting him in the wind.

It took lots of trial an error to learn how to tuck his wings close to get through the gaps soap practically soared through. It had taken him ages to figure out how to perfectly fit soap into his slipstream to give him more lift. It had taken weeks of watching and following soap to learn how to circle and swoop and to lead as flawlessly as soap

Now, after years and years of learning, and flying, and learning some more, their courtship rituals looked like a perfectly laid out dance.

The way their flight paths twined together as they rose straight up into the air, as high as the could go. The way the locked "talons" and plummet towards the ground in terrifying spirals until they were mere meters from death. Where upon they'll catch themselves with open wings, a feather's width away from eachother. The way they perfectly mirror each other as they snake through trees, and vines, and along cliff faces.

Their monthly courting flights have become somewhat of an, unintentional, spectacle. A private, ordered to 'find' their drill Sergent's pine cone, had stumbled across them on one of their flights. News spread fast over the next few months. Not so silent whispers through the halls of base, that kicked up whenever they walked by.

"Have you seen the lieutenant fly with the Sergent?"

"Never seen a hawk do a death spiral before, you should see it next time"

"I didn't know an eagle could fly like that"

"The stunts they pull are crazy"

It's not that they minded the whispers per-say, no, they knew how to deal with distraction and what not. It's just that when a crowd had shown uo to their next courting flight...

Ghost had never courted anyone before soap. Soap had courted before just... just not compatibly. So to suddenly go from whaterver they had before, to a live action show infront of an audience, was a little uncomfortable at first.

Now they usually put in for some time off to do their flight together. Usually somewhere an hour or two flight off base. That's not to say that they do put on the occasional show for everyone on base. Just that they prefer it to be a more private matter.

I kinda want to write more on this but I also want to experiment with other species and situations

[tpeakphotos]

Western grebes are very common in the lakes around northern California. Summer months are their mating season. I’ve always found their mating displays and courtship rituals to be quite interesting. Pairs do a little “weed ceremony” where they dive together, come up with weeds and sort of wave them at each other. I caught these two getting quite amorous with each other at Eagle Lake in Lassen County, California, USA on a late July morning.

In my Etsy shop: https://buff.ly/41Ag9AA Prints and merch on demand: https://buff.ly/3vaxtjI

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Wild Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes

Also known by the nicknames the Texas diamondback rattlesnake, the adobe snake, and the buzz tail, to name a few, the western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) is found throughout the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. This species is one of the iconic symbols of the region, and particularly of the deserts and scrublands in which it lives.

C. atrox has several features that distinguish it from its eastern relative. The western diamondback is slightly smaller, reaching a length of 1.5 m (4.9 ft) and a weight of 6.7 kg (14.7 lbs) at full maturity. They are also lighter in color, typically sporting tan, blueish gray, or pink scales with a darker diamond pattern along the body which gives the species its common name. Lastly, the face has white markings around the eyes and nostrils, and the tail below the rattle is white with black bands. Males and females appear similar; the most reliable way to tell the difference is by the tail. Male tails are thicker, longer, and taper gradually from the body, while female tails narrow abruptly at the base of the body.

The rattle itself is a unique feature of rattlesnakes. It is made of a series of hollow keratin chambers. When a rattlesnake is threatened, a set of muscles at the base of the tail constrict and cause the keratin chambers to vibrate against each other to produce a rattling sound. These muscles move incredibly fast, at about 50 times a second, and a rattle can be sustained for up to three hours-- not that most animals stick around that long. This rattle is present at birth as a tiny 'button', but juveniles are unable to rattle until their first molt, when a second segment is added. Rattlesnakes continue to add segments at each molt throughout their lives, but it's not uncommon for the top segments to become loose and fall off over time.

Mating for the western diamondback rattlesnake occurs in the fall and spring, from October to March. During the winter, individuals hibernate in abandoned burrows or under rocks, though some may emerge prematurely to seek out mates. Once they locate a female, males engage in an elaborate courtship ritual in which they chase the female, 'dance' in front of her, and fight other rival males. If the female is receptive, copulation can last for several hours. Following a successful mating encounter, females gestate for 167 days. Rattlesnakes are ovoviviparous, meaning that the female incubates her eggs inside her body and then gives birth to live young. After hatching, juveniles only stay with their mother a few hours before striking out on their own. Individuals reach maturity at three years old, and can live to be as old as 25.

Due to their venomous defence, C. atrox has few terrestrial predators. Their primary threats come from hawks, eagles, wild turkeys, and roadrunners, the latter of which have specifically evolved to hunt rattlesnakes. In contrast, the western diamondback rattlesnake has a broad appetite and hunts a variety of rodents, birds, and lizards. They are ambush predators, able to detect their prey through smell and heat. Rattlesnakes have a 'pit' on each side of their heads that contain a heat-sensing organ; this organ is so sensitive that an individual can detect prey only 1/10 of a degree warmer than its background.

Of the rattlesnake species, the western diamondback is considered one of the more aggressive, and is responsible for a majority of the snake bites in the United States. Its venom can be fatal to humans, partially due to the large amount of venom delivered in a single bite. However, C. atrox does not seek out human encounters, and only strikes when cornered. Antivenom for this species is available, and if administered soon after being bitten the recovery rate for victims is quite high.

Conservation status: The IUCN has designated the western diamondback rattlesnake as Least Concern. This species is heavily hunted throughout its range, both for its perceived threat to humans, and for its valuable meat and skin.

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Photos

Ned Harris and Wayne Klement

Wes Edens

Geoff Gallice

Derek Dykstra

[teecupangel]

The Rio movies and songs got me in a chokehold. This gives me inspiration. In a cultural and historical aspect as assassins. They likely would create like mannerisms or superstitions or they would do dances to songs they made like https://open.spotify.com/track/4jq2VvGRwwtTDdvhnsXNAp?si=T5HZ1RzKSpWG5T9dHfIYpQ or

https://open.spotify.com/episode/26qhTJflucIqLgV4LGvWrx?si=pt54_9JIRX-RyHQY8uc6gQ

For some made up holiday they did. Just a thought

For anyone curious how the music was played in the movie, here’s Youtube clips of the two music linked in the ask:

It’s not such a big stretch for them to develop their own dance that is heavily influenced by their life as an Assassin.

It would be quite similar to Capoeira and we can even make this something that developed way before when they were called the Hidden Ones.

It would heavily be influenced by traditional Egyptian and Greek dances and no one can be sure why, at first, until they rediscovered Amunet as one of the founders of the Hidden Ones (probably Shaun would be the one to connect the dots).

Also…

A dance between two people interested in one another can take inspiration from the sky dancing courting ritual of eagles.

Maybe they would dance while holding each other’s left hand, a show of trust and vulnerability by having their Hidden Blade arm grasping each other. There’s a lot of turning and twirling for this kind of dance, paying homage to the sky dance courtship of eagles.

And, and, and!

This traditional dance is a bit different depending on which Brotherhood an Assassin came from. There are a few different steps or even the musical instruments being used changes.

The dance is influenced by the people of the Brotherhood with the Assassins in Alamut having the one closest to the dance of the Hidden Ones.

Levantine Brotherhood mixes in both Levantine and crusader elements to it, a show of the variety of people living in Levant.

The Italian Brotherhood adds in what was quite popular during Renaissance Italy as a show of how the heights of its power was during the Renaissance.

The American Brotherhood’s dance is a mix of a lot of other dances and tunes with a heavy influence of the traditions of the Kanien'kehá:ka.

But even with such changes…

An Assassin can still dance with an Assassin from a different branch.

Because, even if there is little or a lot of changes, the underlying tune of the dance remains the same.

Just like the Creed.