Spring stages a spectacular show where birds display their courtship and territorial behaviour.
As nature awakens, the lekking season begins – a true highlight of the year for many bird enthusiasts. Lekking is a rich and complex phenomenon that blends visual display, sound, choreography, and even clever strategy. It’s sometimes mistaken for territorial conflict, although the two are quite different. For example, black grouse are known for their communal leks, yet rarely engage in true territorial fighting.
“At the lek, males posture and challenge each other, but the goal isn’t to harm the rival,” says Jan Södersved, Communications Manager at BirdLife Finland.
Territorial behaviour, in contrast, revolves around claiming and defending a specific area – and can be surprisingly aggressive. Mute swans, for instance, may even drown a rival if their territory is threatened. Moorhens, too, can be fierce in their disputes. Tensions tend to peak just before breeding season, especially among larger species like swans, geese, and cranes.
Males compete for Female attention
Lekking is typically a form of competitive display through which males seek to attract mates and demonstrate their fitness. In species like black grouse and capercaillie, males gather at established leks and engage in group displays. For black grouse, lekking can begin as early as March and continue into May. Experienced males hold the central positions, while younger ones linger on the periphery, waiting for their chance.
In some species, even immature or non-breeding birds may take part in “practice lekking” – mimicking the sounds and movements of the adults without forming actual pairs. Black grouse may also engage in a second, smaller lek in the autumn. Capercaillie lekking usually peaks in early May.
“The globally threatened great snipe also forms lekking groups, but they are rarely seen as their display takes place at night,” Södersved notes.
One of the most fascinating lekking strategies is seen in ruffs, where males follow two distinct tactics: some are extravagantly feathered and perform showy displays—these also include high-ranking satellite males, to whom others yield space. Others, known as ‘sneakers’, resemble females and sneak in mating opportunities without direct confrontation. Ruffs breeding in the north may also lek during their migration.
Passerines and other songbirds also use their voices to both attract mates and defend territory – and scuffles over borders are not uncommon.
Courtship as Relationship Maintenance
Some birds – like swans, jackdaws, and geese – form long-term pair bonds, often lasting for life. In these cases, lekking serves less to attract a mate and more to reinforce the pair bond. Cranes return in spring as bonded couples and perform elegant, synchronized dances – much like grebes. In many duck species, pairing occurs on the wintering grounds, and springtime behaviour focuses more on territory defence.
“It’s often the female who returns to her birthplace, and the male follows,” Södersved explains.
Even owls exhibit tender courtship behaviour, beginning with hooting and sometimes leading to gentle nuzzling or bill-touching – much like the courtship of swans.
Lekking as part of the Natural rhythm
Lekking is not only about finding a mate – it’s part of a species’ social structure, behavioural repertoire, and the rhythm of the seasons. Protecting lek sites is critical for many species’ survival. For example, forest fragmentation threatens the capercaillie’s lekking areas, and black grouse chicks are vulnerable to deep drainage ditches. Frequent human disturbance can cause birds to abandon traditional leks.
Still, Södersved emphasizes that occasional encounters are unlikely to override the strong instinct that draws birds back to these sites year after year.
How to Experience the Lek?
Witnessing a lek is a magical experience – when done responsibly. The key to ethical observation is understanding bird behaviour, and avoiding disturbance. One of the best ways to experience a lek is by booking a photography hide with a responsible guide. Visitors should enter the hide well before sunrise – often the evening before – allowing the birds to arrive undisturbed and carry out their ancient rituals on familiar ground. In Finland, lekking displays can be photographed in locations such as Kuhmo, Kuusamo, and Oulu. You can read more on websites such as Kuusamo Nature Photography.