A display ground where males gather

Lek Mating Quiz: Sage Grouse, Manakins and Display Arenas

This lek mating quiz visits the strange arenas where male birds compete for attention. Play 10 interactive questions on what a lek is, its Swedish name, sage grouse strutting with air sacs, manakins that moonwalk and snap wings, black grouse at dawn, ruffs with colorful collars, kakapo booming bowls, why a few males win most matings and what females gain.

Start Lek Mating Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Lek
What is a lek?
Word
From which language does lek come?
Choice
Who chooses mates at a lek?
Grouse
What do male sage grouse inflate while strutting?
Manakin
Which small birds dance and snap wings in leks?
Dawn
When do black grouse often display?
Ruff
Which shorebird males wear colorful neck collars at leks?
Kakapo
Which flightless parrot booms from bowls in a lek?
Winners
How are matings often shared at a lek?
Gain
What do females mainly gain from lek males?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: What is a lek?
Answer: A display ground where males gather
Females visit to choose.
Q2: From which language does lek come?
Answer: Swedish
It relates to play.
Q3: Who chooses mates at a lek?
Answer: Females
They compare displays.
Q4: What do male sage grouse inflate while strutting?
Answer: Air sacs on their chests
They make popping sounds.
Q5: Which small birds dance and snap wings in leks?
Answer: Manakins
Some moonwalk on branches.
Q6: When do black grouse often display?
Answer: At dawn
Their bubbling calls carry far.
Q7: Which shorebird males wear colorful neck collars at leks?
Answer: Ruffs
Their name comes from the collar.
Q8: Which flightless parrot booms from bowls in a lek?
Answer: Kakapo
It lives in New Zealand.
Q9: How are matings often shared at a lek?
Answer: A few males get most of them
Top displays win.
Q10: What do females mainly gain from lek males?
Answer: Genes, not food or nests
Males give no other help.

Dance Floors for Choosy Females

In lek mating, males gather at a traditional display ground called a lek, a Swedish word related to play. Females visit, compare the males' displays and choose a mate. Males offer no food, nest or protection, so females mainly gain genes.

Displays vary. Male sage grouse strut and inflate chest air sacs, making popping sounds. Manakins dance on branches, snap their wings and even moonwalk. Black grouse display at dawn with bubbling calls, and male ruffs wear colorful neck collars.

New Zealand's flightless kakapo also uses a lek, booming from bowls dug in the ground. At most leks a few males win most of the matings, which drives the evolution of ever more striking displays.

What This Quiz Teaches

Bird and biology fans will enjoy these questions.

What a lek is
Who chooses mates
Which birds use leks
How matings are shared
Why displays evolve

Did You Know?

Leks are often used for generations.
Some insects and mammals also lek.
Antelopes like kob use leks.
Displays can last hours.
Central spots on a lek are prized.