lekking

Lekking is a mating system in which males gather at a communal display site, or lek, to perform courtship displays while females visit to choose mates. In most lekking species, males provide no parental care or resources, and mating success depends on display quality rather than territory ownership.

Males defend small display sites within the lek and perform songs, dances, or visual displays intended to attract females. Females visit the lek alone, assess the performances, and mate with one or a few males. As a result, male reproductive success is highly skewed, and a small number of males sire most offspring. Leks may be stable over time or shift location with changing habitat and female movement.

Several evolutionary explanations have been proposed. The hotspot hypothesis suggests females visit a crowded area of displays; the hotshot hypothesis argues that less attractive males cluster around a highly attractive rival to increase their own chances. Female choice drives strong sexual selection on male traits, and lek systems often feature elaborate coloration or courtship behavior.

Lekking occurs in various taxa, most famously in birds such as sage grouse, manakins, and birds of paradise. It is also observed in some insects and other vertebrates. Ecological factors, population density, and disturbance can affect lek visibility and stability, making habitat preservation important for species that rely on lekking for reproduction.