#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

[radioactiverats]

thoughts on seekers locking landing gears and spiraling in the sky as a gesture of trust, similar to how eagles do that courtship spiral :3c or even just twirling in the air together a little too close. yes its probably really dangerous, but nothing beats being in total sync in the air

OH >:3c Absolutely in love with this. THE RITUALS ARE INTRICATE. I'm gnawing on this from various angles. Firstly thinking about this being a seeker-specific aspect of Conjunx Ritus (mutual Act of Devotion??) and it would honestly be so beautiful :,)

My mind jumped to this,, (angst warn)

---

In early stages of the war, when the exhilaration of following Megatron had worn off and bots were starting to realise their sparks weren't worth his doomed-to-fail commands (not enough experience yet..). When he was mostly relying on fear to keep his troops in order before he'd gained their full loyalty, there had been an Incident. You remember it like it was yesterday, because Starscream had looked ashen when he came back that night, and you'd never, ever seen that expression on his faceplate before.

You sit up, shuffling over to make room on the berth as Starscream plunks himself heavily down. After a few cycles of increasingly uneasy silence, he finally manages to speak.

"Two seekers have offlined."

His iron grip on the edge of the berth tell you the circumstances of their deaths were not straightforward.

"What do you know of Conjunx Ritus?"

You actually take a nanoklik to think about it, which Starscream appreciates given the solemnity of the situation.

"I know there's four acts?" You finally say, suddenly embarrassed about your naivety. To be fair, you'd never really had a chance to consider the possibility. Thankfully, Starscream just nods briefly.

"Correct. The fourth and final stage is called an Act of Devotion. Back on Vos, we seekers had a different way of performing it."

Starscream takes a klik to collect himself. You can't help but wonder if he has a Conjunx. If he does, he's certainly never talked about them.

"It's called a Death Spiral," Starscream finally says, voice horse. "Two seekers soar to the very fringes of the atmosphere and there, before the eyes of the universe itself, lock their servos and their landing gears before free falling back to planetside."

Beside him, you're enthralled to learn about this aspect of your own culture that you'd never had a chance to become familiar with. At the same time, you're picking up on a strange emotion that clogs his vocaliser and the faraway look in his optics, so you remain quiet as he resets his vocaliser.

"At the very last second," Starscream continues softly, "the two seekers pull up immediately before making contact with the ground."

It sounds incredibly dangerous, but you're enraptured by the idea. You know this because Starscream has made you practice something similar in the past, and there were a few times you genuinely thought you wouldn't make it through training in one piece even with landing gears. It undoubtedly took a lot of skill to harness the winds without the aid of thrusters, and even more courage and trust. You supposed that was where the love came in.

"It's... exquisite." Starscream offlines his optics, shakes his helm before turning to look at you, a ragged sort of pain spiking jaggedly through his EM field.

"I can imagine," You murmur quietly. It sounded like he was telling a story, back then. One from experience.

"Earlier today, two seekers engaged in a Death Spiral. But they didn't pull up." Starscream ex-vents raggedly, tilting his helm up to stare at the ceiling. "It was a pact."

For a klik you just sit there, frozen in silent horror. When he speaks again, it's through gritted denta. "Megatron has now enforced a ban against Conjunx Ritus between seekers."

You had a few guesses as to why. Seekers' valuable frame types to the Decepticon cause meant that Megatron couldn't afford to lose them. However, as increasing numbers of troops grew discontent with his leadership, Megatron as usual had decided to silence them through cruelty. It seemed that today's incident had been the last straw.

---

Outside the context of courtship rituals though, I see twirling together as a show of trust that anyone can do, from sires/carriers/sparklings to amica endura, cos flying and the skies are so deeply entwined with the seeker identity. Imagine just flying with your bro and the exhilaration of doing a complicated spin together, so close you can feel the heat of each other's engines on your plates before zooming apart again, the sound of your laughter carried on the winds. Must be so good to be in sync like that fr.

That being said, I think Starscream's determined to make sure cadet never feels alone in the skies, which is meant to be your home. Maybe in better times, I can see him joining cadet for training - the moves are a breeze for him, but it warms his spark to see you so happy while in the air. Not sure they get the luxury of the Autobots' "wanna go for a drive?", especially since his interactions with you must be under the guise of training - so Megatron won't see you as a target. Still, one must imagine Starscream happy.

Thank you for the lovely ask!!!!!!! Another yap... but in the process I have learned so much about eagles... I will put some sofas in my inbox so asks are received comfortably

[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

[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

[cooali]

bird of the day 18 🦜

the secretarybird is in my humble opinion one of the funniest (looking) birds out there. this large bird of prey native to africa looks like a mix of different bird species. it is very large, has a head and body in the shape of an eagle, legs like a crane and that is not even mentioning the silly feathers it has on its head!!! add the beautiful red color around the eyes and you have created a truly marvelous creature kshdksj.

it mostly eats insects and small vertebrates, that it hunts by chasing them while running on the ground, and stomping on them. unlike most bird of prey they are largely terrestrial. they cant use their claws to grab prey and fly away, because their toes are too small and thick to function as a claw, so they hunt on foot.

they form monogamous pairs and defend large territories up to 50km2 (19 sq mi), they can breed at any time in the year but prefer the late dry season. the birds are mostly silent, but can make some loud guttural noises during courtship rituals (good if youre into that i guess)!!

[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