Once the male twelve-wired bird-of-paradise has performed its first display to the right standard to persuade a female to approach, it switches to a new tactic.
It turns its back, twists the lower part of its body from left to right and brushes the female’s face repeatedly with its wire plumes. It’s hard to see this gesture in real time, but Tim managed to freeze the moment of contact, showing how displays comprise touch, colour, sound and movement.
USA
Tim is a field biologist and wildlife photojournalist with a reputation for returning from the wild with shots of nearly impossible subjects. His pioneering research in the rainforest canopy led to a PhD from Harvard University and the first of many articles for National Geographic magazine. His work has garnered numerous awards, including many in Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
Help us harness the power of photography to advance scientific knowledge, spread awareness of important issues and nurture a global love for nature.
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