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Choosy females
The main problem for females is to choose a male as a sexual partner that will ensure her babies will have the greatest chance of survival and reproduction. As a result of this one would assume that a female would need to be picky when it comes to choosing a mate. This is not always the case as some males will take a route of forced mating with female, but this is not a very successful form of mating as usually the female will have to up a certain position to be receptive for successful reproduction. 
Being choosy isn't always of a benefit to the females and as a result she may actually suffer a reduction in fitness; you expect that when experience direct selection the females' preference will evolve to an optimum that would maximise fecundity. To reduce the risk of decrease their fecundity females are coy to gauge directly the male's fitness. George Williams described courtship as a contest between male salesmanship and female sales resistance, there has to be a compromise at some point.
The females will prolong courtship to find out what the male is really like, his true nature. Natural selection favours distinct features, by prolong courtship, the female might be able to see some of his distinct features that could her aid her children's' survival.
In Herring gulls courtship (Carus argentatus) the female will beg like a juvenile does to be fed so that the male can feed her. However, the passing of food doesnt always take place in some species of gull; its just a ritual.
With the common tern (Sterna hirudunda) Nisbet (1973 and 77) thought that this form of courtship effects the clutch weight and is thought to be a predictor of the males performance in feeding their young, he felt that it was a good indicator of his parental responsibilities.
