Display situations in two Australian ravens

Abstract

The display situations of Corvus coronoides and C. mellori are reviewed. For two sympatric species some displays need to be clearly species-specific, for others such distinction may be unimportant, and others still are probably beneficial if interspecific. The paucity of courtship displays in these species suggests that the need for elaborate performances is very much less in long-lived birds maintaining a long-lasting pair-bond than in those with more temporary liaisons.