What Is It?

• We gather to dance at a place called the lek.
• I puff up my eyebrows and the sacs on my neck.
• I boom, stomp, and shake to beat all the rest.
• And prove to the girls that I am the best.

From March through May, greater prairie-chickens do a mating dance. They gather at dawn on open prairie areas called leks. There, the boys puff up their orange eye combs and the air sacs on their necks. These inflated air sacs allow them to make deep booming sounds. They stomp, shake their wings, and chase each other, sometimes striking with their wings, feet, and beaks. The best, most experienced fighters usually win favor with the girls. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/field-guide.

Looking for more ways to have fun outside? Find out about Discover Nature programs in your area at mdc.mo.gov/events.