The hilarious video shows a male hoopoe courting its reflection in the mirror by offering it a worm after mistaking it for a potential mate.

Footage shows the feathered Romeo approaching the mirror before flaunting a wormy gift to its newfound love interest at the Chornye Zemli Nature Reserve, Republic of Kalmykia, Russia.

Stunned, then moved aside, uncertain about why the reflection would not reciprocate feelings.

A second later another hoopoe approached the scene, and the two engaged in a comical altercation, thus adding another layer of hilarity to the misunderstanding.

The Nature Reserve said in a statement: 'On one of the wooden hides, located near a watering hole formed by an artesian well, employees of the scientific department of the Black Lands Nature Reserve installed a mirror for the purpose of an experiment - to record the reaction of animals to their reflection.

'This caused confusion among the local birds, the hoopoes. First, the male tried to court his reflection in the mirror, offering it a worm.

'Then it began to show aggression, challenging both its reflection and either its partner or the male from the neighbouring area to a duel.

'The end to this dispute was put to rest by a herd of saigas that came to drink through the looking glass.

'We hope that the bird's psyche is not damaged!'