Early morning in central Sweden. The male Black grouses are getting ready for their special lek, the "mating tournament" or courtship ritual. The white tail feathers (the under tail coverts) fold out and form a fluffy rosette or fan with the darker tail feathers as an elegant backdrop. The red parts on the head grow with age, from a red spot on young roosters to an almost overgrown crown on the oldest cocks. The crouching position means preparation for battle. The females come to visit every now and then, but the males fight intensively every morning from mid-March to early May on who should get the favor to mate with the females.