Springtime is high-fashion season for the ruff. In wetlands across northern Europe and Asia, these medium-sized waders gather in marshes to form leks, which are small breeding areas used for courtship displays. Dominant males (also called independents) like the fancy fellow on our homepage, fluff up their colored and intricately patterned capes and collars and mock fight with each other. Their aim? Each wants to secure a prime spot on the lek to showcase his finery and entice watching females to choose him as a mate.
Making it work—in Norway
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Happy Father s Day
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Halfway Day
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Boxing Day—a shopper’s delight
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The call of the wild in Alaska
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A cry for independence
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Channel Country, Australia
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World Rivers Day
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Black History Month
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Humpbacks return to the Inside Passage
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Spring comes to the Palouse
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Mountain goats at Glacier National Park in Montana
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Venice Skatepark, Los Angeles, California
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National Park Week begins
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World Sea Turtle Day
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Class, please take out a No. 2 pencil…
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A dying breed of tree thrives in an American park
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Happy Thanksgiving!
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The eloquence of elephants
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Take this for a spin...
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High tide at the walled city
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Gone ‘lightseeing’ in Berlin
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The lemurs of Madagascar
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Gemsbok in Namibian sand dunes
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It s superb owl Sunday
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Guiding ships to safety
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Alaska moose
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Sailing on thick ice
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Daylight saving time
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Presidents hear the echo of history
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Hooray, hooray, it s Unicorn Day!