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 ritual to the curious females: posturing, 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 very early morning (at around 3 am). After a 45-minute drive and a short walk to the hide we settle, wait and enjoy the scene. As the sun rises the “joust” begins. Other birds and mammals, like cranes, owls, various songbirds, as well as foxes and hares may also be spotted on the open swamp with good luck. Around 7:30 the sun is high enough that the tired heroes are retiring to the forest, so we also withdraw from the scene and return to your hotel for breakfast.

Programme available during the mating season for 3-4 weeks in April-May
Group size: max 4 people
Duration about 5 hours

Participants have to have appropriate personal outdoor clothing according to the weather.

On separate agreement forest breakfast at campfire costs an extra 15 euro / person. This also prolongs the tour duration. Please contact prior to online reservation!

Attention: These animals follow their virtue. There is no intervention to tease them to place. The programme is satisfaction guaranteed. If grouses are not seen and you are unhappy with the tour, partial or full refund 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.