PHOTOS OF BIRDS MATING VIA "CLOACAL KISS"

   Over the years I have been lucky four times to come across and take photos of birds mating via a "cloacal kiss". A "cloacal kiss" is the brief, physical touching of the male and female bird's cloacas, or external openings, during mating, to transfer sperm for fertilization. The male mounts the female and they briefly press their cloacas together.  This transfer is very quick, sometimes lasting a second or less.

 

CASPIAN TERNS MATING

PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK 

BRIGHTON, ONTARIO

5/19/2025

GREAT EGRETS MATING

WAKODAHATCHEE WETLANDS

DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA

3/9/2016

OSPREYS MATING

PELICAN BAY, N. NAPLES, FLORIDA

12/16/2024

EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES MATING

PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

6/14/2023

CANADA GEESE, RING-BILLED GULLS, MALLARDS, A MUTE SWAN & A GADWALL, ASHBRIDGE'S BAY PARK, TORONTO, ONTARIO, 11/7/2025

 

MALE & FEMALE MALLARDS, ASHBRIDGE'S BAY PARK, TORONTO, ONTARIO, 11/7/2025

 

MALE & FEMALE GADWALLS, ASHBRIDGE'S BAY PARK, TORONTO, ONTARIO, 11/7/2025

 

MALE & FEMALE AMERICAN WIGEON, ASHBRIDGE'S BAY PARK, TORONTO, ONTARIO, 11/7/2025

 

MALE & FEMALE BUFFLEHEADS, ASHBRIDGE'S BAY PARK, TORONTO, ONTARIO, 11/7/2025

 

AMERICAN HERRING GULL & RING-BILLED GULLS, ASHBRIDGE'S BAY PARK, TORONTO, ONTARIO, 11/7/2025

   The larger gull in the background is an American Herring Gull and the two smaller gulls in the foreground are Ring-billed Gulls.

 

MUTE SWAN, ASHBRIDGE'S BAY PARK, TORONTO, ONTARIO, 11/7/2025

 

GAGGLE OF CANADA GEESE, ASHBRIDGE'S BAY PARK, TORONTO, ONTARIO, 11/7/2025

 

MALLARDS, LESLIE LOOKOUT PARK, TORONTO, ONTARIO,

 

RAZORBILL, LESLIE LOOKOUT PARK, TORONTO, ONTARIO, 11/5/2025

 

MALE NORTHERN SHOVELER, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ONTARIO, 10/26/2025

AMERICAN WIGEONS, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ONTARIO, 10/26/2025

 

EUROPEAN STARLING, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ONTARIO, 10/26/2025

 

COMMON GRACKLES, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ONTARIO, 10/26/2025

 

GADWALL, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ONTARIO, 10/26/2025

 

MALLARDS, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ONTARIO, 10/26/2025

 

BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE AT FEEDER, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ONTARIO, 10/26/2025

 

WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ONTARIO, 10/26/2025

 

JUVENILE NORTHERN HARRIER IN FLIGHT, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ONTARIO, 10/26/2025

 

RING-BILLED GULL, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ONTARIO, 10/26/2025

 

MALE RED-WINGED, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ONTARIO, 10/26/2025

 

MUTE SWANS, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ONTARIO, 10/26/2025

 

FLOCKS OF CANADA GEESE IN FLIGHT, IN WATER & ON BEACH, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ONTARIO, 10/26/2025