The beta males remain in close proximity as well guarding the nesting territory from intruders or potential predators, such as rival males, or snakes and mongooses.
In territories in which females are able to escape from males, both the alpha and beta males share provisioning equally.
This demonstrates that females might use the crevices as a strategy to attract both alpha and beta males to the nest.
Females can use their body size and wedge-shaped crests as copulation sites to direct male paternity when both alpha and beta males are present.
Beta males are sometimes sub-adults - easily recognized, as their plumage retain female-like characters.
Females can potentially direct the paternity of dominant, or alpha males and subordinate, or beta males by techniques such as cryptic female choice and sneaky copulation with subordinate males.
However, this hypothesis has not yet been supported due to a lack of observation regarding alpha males punishing beta males for not caring for the offspring.
However, in some cases, females can be the largest, followed by the alpha male, and then beta males.
