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I met a friend of mine just off Forest Road 11 before sunrise to photograph the sharp-tailed grouse. One of the more interesting things about the sharp-tail’s is that in the spring they gather on a piece of high ground called a “Lek” where they do their courting rituals.

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The males display by pointing their tails up, puff up their neck pouch, spread their wings, hold their heads low, and stomp the ground while spinning in circles. They look like little airplanes.

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It is an amazing dance to watch. I have no idea how they make so much noise with their feet. I never get tired of watching these displays. Even their eyebrows puff up showing the yellow feathers. As you can see in this photo the top of their sharp tails will flip back and forth. The dance can go on for hours.

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They do this to attract the females and assure them that he will be the better mate. At first the females don’t show much interest.

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If a certain male does impress them they will hang out a little closer until they take off together.

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Along with dancing the males will face off, jumping at each other until a fight begins. Sometimes it will get heated enough that feathers are flying.

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This is one of my friend’s photos where he captured three fighting at the same time.

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