females choose males who they instinctively see are fine specimens of their species. the colours of the plumage, the construction of the nest, the song and the mating dance all play a part. in some species the pairing is monogamous, and in others the males are polygamous. if they are monogamous, the males look much like the females. if they are polygamous, the males are very much flashier than the females. in both cases, it is the female who makes the choice of partner.