Home > Trips> Norhern Finland, Lapland > Day excursion: Ruffs mating display

Day excursion: Ruffs mating display - 1 Day

The ruff is a photogenic medium-sized wading bird which belongs to the sandpiper family. Its mating dance is renown. Year after year, towards the end of May, they gather for collective courtship displays at sites known as leks. During the mating display, the fearless males puff up their multicoloured feathery crowns dancing around each other. Poised and elegant, they resemble proud princes of medieval times. The colouring of the males’ neck plumage can vary from grey and brown to totally white. The most suprising thing is that their mating display is almost silent.

We will leave from Ivalo or Inari in the morning or early afternoon, depending on the weather conditions and sunlight. We drive north until the coniferous forest ends and the subartic birch zone begins. This area has large wetlands. After a 1 km walk, we arrive near a wetland area strewn with hump-shapes palsa plateaus where the ruffs’ mating displays take place. We will hide under a camouflage cover and begin observing and photographing the mating display from there.

Species we expect to encounter: ruff

Species we expect to encounter: ruff

Day 1
Day program:

We will leave from Ivalo or Inari in the morning or early afternoon, depending on the weather conditions and sunlight. We drive north until the coniferous forest ends and the subartic birch zone begins. This area has large wetlands. After a 1 km walk, we arrive near a wetland area strewn with hump-shapes palsa plateaus where the ruffs’ mating displays take place. We will hide under a camouflage cover and begin observing and photographing the mating display from there.

Price year 2020-2021 includes:

  • * transportation by minibus,
  • * guiding and
  • * snacks

Price year 2020-2021 doesn't include:

  • Clients are advised to have weather appropriate clothing, long rubber boots, camera gear, tripod, own equipment and travel insurance.

You can send your enquiry via the form below.

Day excursion: Ruffs mating display
From € 195 € 0
per Adult

Trip Facts

  • 2
  • 4
  • English, Finnish
  • 8
  • Ivalo or Inari villages (from hotel)
  • Ivalo or Inari villages (from hotel)
  • From 20th May until 31st May