Birds that lek (1 Viewer)

[stuart scott]

I got wondering recently how many types of bird ‘lek’ such as Ruff, Capercaillie and Black Grouse ?
Is it just grouse/game type birds that get together and the males strut their stuff?

I’m particularly interested in (European) bird breeding displays and calls (waders especially). If anyone could point towards information on this I’d be most grateful.

BTW are Ruff known to lek in the UK? ( not naming places if its a breeding site )

ta
Stu

 

[Aracari]

I know you are interested in european birds, and I can't help there. But many south american birds will form leks, such as manakins, cock-of-the-rocks and other cotingas.

 

[Rasmus Boegh]

I know you are interested in european birds, and I can't help there. But many south american birds will form leks, such as manakins, cock-of-the-rocks and other cotingas.

A few other Neotropical's that form leks are the loose leks of Screaming Piha's and more typical leks of some species of Hermits (a type of Hummingbird). Some Nightjars (e.g the two Uropsalis spp) and Ochre-bellied & McConell's Flycatcher often form small loose leks, too.

 

[Steven Astley]

Yes Ruff do form leks in the UK and as usual i believe it's in Norfolk. If I remember rightly uk ruff lek was shown live in the early 90s late 80s on a springwatch type programme on the BBC. Don't know if any one remembers it?

 

[Chris D]

Even though not European, there's loads of great info on the displays of some species of Birds of Paradise. Incredible. My favorite leking display was watching it materialize around me in Ecuador. Tawny Bellied Hermits were all doing their high pitched call. I couldn't see one till I sat down and chilled. Eventually I realized they surrounded me and were as close as 5 feet. Just wonderful. Good luck.

 

[Jos Stratford]

In Eastern Europe, the Great Snipe leks are a sight worth seeing

 

[joe cockram]

Buff breasted sandpipers lek at their breeding grounds in the arctic tundra. Up to 10 males run around holding their wings upright flashing their white underwings in front of a group of females. Apparently birds on migration do this on their own but i've never seen it.

joe

 

[Capercaillie71]

I got wondering recently how many types of bird ‘lek’ such as Ruff, Capercaillie and Black Grouse ?
Is it just grouse/game type birds that get together and the males strut their stuff?

Strictly speaking I don't think that what capercaillie do is lekking, although everyone refers to it as such because there isn't another name for what they do.

My understanding is that a true lek (such as for black grouse, ruff etc.) is a discrete arena within which the males defend small 'territories' of a few square metres and compete for the best spot (usually the centre of the lek).

Male capercaillies will display anywhere within their breeding territory (which can measure 50-100 hectares), but these territories are arranged like the slices of a cake. At the height of the mating season the males mostly display in the part of their territory that is closest to the centre of the 'cake' and thus usually in relatively close proximity of other males.

Unlike black grouse which usually are only a few metres apart when displaying, male capercaillies can often be about 100 metres from the next nearest displaying male and only sometimes come together to fight. At one 'lek' that I know the usual display stances are spread over an area nearly a kilometre in width.

So, not strictly a lek (although perhaps I am being pedantic ).

 

[JWN Andrewes]

Yes Ruff do form leks in the UK and as usual i believe it's in Norfolk. If I remember rightly uk ruff lek was shown live in the early 90s late 80s on a springwatch type programme on the BBC. Don't know if any one remembers it?

Although often, having lekked (as at Inner Marsh Farm in Cheshire back in the early nineties), they'll then head off and actually breed a lot further north.

Some mammals also lek, eg Hammer-headed Fruit Bats in west Africa.

James

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Some mammals also lek, eg Hammer-headed Fruit Bats in west Africa.

James

Male Ghost Moths (and I think maybe other swift moths) do something that resembles lekking - hovering about in groups over vegetation.

 

[stuart scott]

Thanks everyone for some fine answers.
Interesting stuff to follow up on

ta
stu