singing ground

singing ground (plural singing grounds)

1. A place where certain species of male birds, especially the woodcock and capercaillie, congregate to sing and display themselves, in order to attract a female.
   • 1952, John Warren Aldrich, U.S. Fish, Wildlife Service, Investigations of Woodcock, Snipe and Rails in 1951:

     There was one instance of a male observed copulating with a decoy while a live female was on the singing ground 8 feet away . It could not be proved the other bird was a female but the observer was within a few feet and the size and actions of this bird were typical of other females seen on singing grounds.

   • 2019, Greg Hoch, Sky Dance of the Woodcock:

     Females can visit multiple singing grounds and males over the spring, decide who has the best display, and choose that male. Males can't choose; they can only be chosen.