Animals have a variety of ways to impress the opposite sex. Some grow weapons that allow males to fight for access to females, like antlers on deer. Others are more ornamental. In some species both male and female “dress up”. Breeding egrets both develop aigrettes or ‘nuptial plumes’.

 

 

 

 
Where it’s necessary for the female to be able to camouflage with young, only the males have flashy colors like this wood duck pair.

Least tern males present a female with the best fish he can find. If she accepts then they are a pair. If not he searches for another.
In addition to aigrettes, during breeding season herons and egrets develop a bright eye patch called a lore.

Great egret on above and tricolored heron below

 

 

Anoles will show off their brightly colored throat fan to attract the opposite sex.