Remarkable footage has emerged of a mating dance between one of South America’s rarest birds.

The video, filmed on July 1 2016 in Patagonia, shows the unusual and rarely seen courtship ritual of the hooded grebe.

The two can be seen bumping their bodies up against each other, tilting their heads in time with each other and, most strangely, what can only be described as headbanging against each other.

The footage is part of the 30-minute documentary "Tango in the Wind," which documents the conservation effort to save the hooded grebe.

Explain the documentary makers: "During filming we captured the first-ever footage of the hooded grebe's full courtship dance, after six months in the field, working with locals and Argentinian researchers."

The dance recently went viral. Newsflare licences this clip with permission from the documentary makers.

According to the filmmakers, there are only around 800 hooded grebe in existence.

MUSIC CREDIT:
Music by Stine Helkjær Engen and Orquesta Tipica Andariega:
https://www.andariegatango.com.ar

LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/livingwildpics/
http://living-wild.net/thehoodedgrebe/
http://www.birdlife.org/campaign/nest-quest

The hooded grebe is one of the rarest birds in South America. Its courtship dance is a thing of beauty. This expression of love is rarely seen, as they breed on lakes on the high plateaux of Patagonia, severed from human disturbance by hours of rocky volcanic terrain.

In partnership with BirdLife International our team has made a documentary (Tango in the Wind) on this birds battle for survival and the conservation hero’s working to save this unique bird. During filming we captured the first ever footage of the hooded grebe's full courtship dance, after 6 months in the field, working with locals and Argentinian researchers.

The Living Wild in South America team would welcome coverage of this news story. We believe there are several possible opportunities to continue to promote this important conservation message and share our unique footage.

https://www.facebook.com/livingwildpics/
http://living-wild.net/thehoodedgrebe/
http://www.birdlife.org/campaign/nest-quest

Music by Stine Helkjær Engen and Orquesta Tipica Andariega:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/hooded-grebe
https://www.andariegatango.com.ar