lek

lek (LEK) - n., a place where male animals of the same species gather for courtship and display; an assembly of such animals. v., to assemble in a lek and engage in competitive courtship displays.


It's mostly birds who lek, especially varieties of grouse, but some mammals (including some seals and fruit bats) and iguanas as well as insects also lek. One important attribute of lekking is that there's a strong component of female choice. From Swedish lek, denoting both child's play and mating behavior, from Germanic roots.

---L.