Black Grouse Lek watching

With its white wing stripes and a lyre-shaped tail, black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix) is one of the most distinctive large birds in the arctic forests. At dawn in spring they gather in preferred places, called leks, where the cocks perform their mating rituals: posing, flutter-jumping and uttering bubbling sounds. This ‘lekking behaviour’ is often accompanied by the fights of the cocks.
Witness this spectacular performance escorted by our expert guide, who will introduce you to the life of the forests in Central Finland.

The guide picks you up from your hotel early morning, as we need to settle before dawn. The drive and the walk to the hide lasts about 45 minutes. As the sun rises the spectacle begins. Other birds and mammals, like cranes, owls, various songbirds might also be spotted on the open swamp with luck. When the sun is high the tired heroes are retiring to the forest, we also withdraw from the scene and return to your hotel for breakfast.

The program is available during the 4-6 weeks mating season, March-May. The 2026 season has already started.
Group size: max 4 people
Duration about 4-5 hours

Participants have to have appropriate personal outdoor clothing according to the weather. We recommend also waterproof footwear.

On separate agreement forest breakfast at campfire is possible. Please contact prior to online reservation!

Attention: These animals follow their virtue. There is no intervention to attract them on place. The programme is satisfaction guaranteed. If grouses are not seen and you are unhappy with the tour, compensation may be negotiated. Please note that in order to minimise the disturbance to the wildlife it is allowed to visit the site only with Tavinsulka guides.