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Published online 16 July 2001 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news010719-4
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Birds feel the rub
Phony phallus puts sperm ahead in bird orgasm first.
These birds would be at it for 10-20 minutes," says ecologist Tim Birkhead of the red-billed buffalo weaver and its remarkable false phallus. A male uses his organ to rub females up the right way and improve his sperm's chance of success1.
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