Writing of this bird, Gilman says a male will approach a female, fluff his feathers, stand and flutter his wings. This increases in speed and violence until he appears in a perfect frenzy, then springs five or six feet into the air; slowly descends, body perpendicular, beak on breast and thrust forward under body. Meanwhile he furiously beats his wings, the noise audible sixty yards away. His final approach is made in short grotesque hops, sometimes interrupted by a whirring circular flight three feet above her.