Morning lek
Black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix)
From the cycle - Birds of Europe. You can see more my photos from this cycle by entering "Pawel's Birds of Europe" in the search box.
Black grouse can be found on open habitats across Europe. They are adapted to an extensive array of habitats, though most frequently utilize the transitionary zones between forests and open clearings, especially steppe, heathland, grassland and pasture when near agricultural fields. Black grouse have a very distinctive and well-recorded courtship ritual. Every dawn in the spring, male grouse begin competition with other males in hopes of attracting a hen to mate with. They will display to signal their territory and vigor by fanning out their elaborate lyre-shaped tails and inflating their necks on designated open ground called a lek. Their song consists of a long, dove-like bubbling coo or murmur. Black grouse hens visiting the lek decide the overall healthiest male, though not all females may arrive at every lek.
Morning lek
Black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix)
From the cycle - Birds of Europe. You can see more my photos from this cycle by entering "Pawel's Birds of Europe" in the search box.
Black grouse can be found on open habitats across Europe. They are adapted to an extensive array of habitats, though most frequently utilize the transitionary zones between forests and open clearings, especially steppe, heathland, grassland and pasture when near agricultural fields. Black grouse have a very distinctive and well-recorded courtship ritual. Every dawn in the spring, male grouse begin competition with other males in hopes of attracting a hen to mate with. They will display to signal their territory and vigor by fanning out their elaborate lyre-shaped tails and inflating their necks on designated open ground called a lek. Their song consists of a long, dove-like bubbling coo or murmur. Black grouse hens visiting the lek decide the overall healthiest male, though not all females may arrive at every lek.