With Valentine's Day just passed, it’s high time we talk about some bird love affairs. Birds have some of the most dramatic, heart-warming courtships of any animal on this planet, I'm going to delve into some of the wackiest wooing of the avian world and the science behind it all!

Let's begin with one of the UK's most-loved species, the robin. The infamous robin ‘red-breast’, with its tame disposition and friendly character has its roots firmly set in Norfolk culture, with many believing them a messenger from passed loved ones, or even omens of impending death. But what is that bright flash of colour actually for?

Well, it essentially acts as a proclamation of territory, a flag to say, "This is my patch!". Robins have an automatic instinct to attack others with this red bib, and a bolder coloured bib indicates a healthier, stronger individual who would usually come out on top in territorial conflicts. As a result, females can judge the quality of a male by his colour, helping them to select a male with desirable genes, and one who can provide food for her offspring. There have even been instances of robins attacking red pieces of material on sticks or windows where they see their own reflection! Isn't that amazing? I have a lot of respect for robins - they are not just a winter gem acting as a beacon to light the cold days, but intelligent and fierce creatures who won't go down without a fight!

Most ducks have an awe-inspiring range of their own parades and rituals. Remember at the start of this I mentioned wacky? Imagine a seemingly deranged bird erupting into a spasm of unlikely movements, throwing its head back far over its body multiple times… this goldeneye courtship is quite magnificent to behold, but so is the teals with its verticle squeeze (that's one to look up) and the red-breasted mergansers with its extraordinary neck-stretching. There is so much biodiversity to be found in the duck family!

However, the elegant dancing by the great crested grebe is surely unrivalled as the finest courtship display among British birds. It involves many stages, including synchronised headshakes and the birds sitting up on their haunches as they collect weeds from under the surface to present to each other. Everything is done together like a delicate ballet to demonstrate their monogamy and faithfulness. Other grebes across the world go the extra mile, some even pitter-pattering across the water in sync!

A challenge for you all for these last winter days: search for the little bits of life pushing through in the cold. The ones that are persevering. And indeed push through yourselves; there are warmer days to come!