At this age they feed on insects, but later on switch to a vegetable diet. In August, broods break apart, but young females remain with their mother until late autumn. And then comes the time for courtship. From the end of March through April wood-grouse males would perform remarkable courtship rituals, beating their wings to produce resonant drumming by which they attract females and stake their claims. The birds are said then to get so much ecstatic that they stop to pay attention at any other sounds, the more so when females join them.
Hunters know it and take advantage of the fact, drawing closer to shoot.
At the zoo this period of courtship display is a more extended one, lasting from mid-winter till summer. The order Galliformes includes yet another family - the Phasianidae family, with its magnificent peacock. Peacocks come from India and Ceylon, where they still flourish, being a symbol of the Krishna god. Peacocks are believed to be sacred and as such enjoy safety from hunters. People also appreciate their passion for hunting and eating young cobras which naturally keeps venomous snakes away.