The great bustard breeds in March, and a single male may mate with up to five females.
Before mating, the males moult into their breeding plumage around January.
Males establish dominance in their groups during winter, clashing violently by ramming into and hitting each other with their bills.
Like other bustards, the male great bustard displays and competes for the attention of females on what is known as a lek.
In this species, the male has a flamboyant display beginning with the strutting male puffing up his throat to the size of a football.
He then tilts forwards and pulls his head in so that the long whiskery chin feathers point upwards and the head is no longer visible.
He next cocks his tail flat along his back, exposing the normally hidden bright white plumage then he lowers his wings, with the primary flight feathers folded but with the white secondaries fanning out.
The displaying males, who may walk around for several minutes at a time with feathers flared and head buried waiting for hens to arrive, have been described as a "foam-bath" because of their appearance.
All breeding great bustards also moult again from June to September.

One to three olive or tan coloured, glossy eggs (two eggs being the average) are laid by the female in May or June.
The nests, which are shallow scrapes made by the female on dry, soft slopes and plains, are usually situated close to the prior lek location.
Nests are situated in sparse clusters, with a study in Inner Mongolia finding nests at a minimal 9 m (30 ft) apart from each other.
In the same study, nests were placed at mid-elevation on a hill, at about 190 to 230 m (620 to 750 ft).
Nesting sites are typically in dense grassy vegetation about 15 to 35 cm (5.9 to 13.8 in), likely for protection against predation, with extensive exposure to sunlight.
Eggs weigh about 150 g (5.3 oz) and are on average 79.4 mm (3.13 in) tall by 56.8 mm (2.24 in) wide.
The female incubates the eggs alone for 21 to 28 days.
The chicks almost immediately leave the nest after they hatch, although they do not move very far from their mother until they are at least 1 year old.
Young great bustards begin developing their adult plumage at about 2 months, and begin to develop flying skills at the same time.
They practice by stretching, running, flapping, and making small hops and jumps to get airborne.
By three months they are able to fly reasonable distances.
If threatened, the young stand still, using their downy plumage, mainly sepia in colour with paler buffy streaks, as camouflage.
Juveniles are independent by their first winter, but normally stay with their mother until the next breeding season.
Males usually start to mate from 5 to 6 years of age, although may engage in breeding display behaviour at a younger age.
Females usually first breed at 2 to 3 years old.
The great bustard breeds in March, and a single male may mate with up to five females. Before mating, the males moult into their breeding plumage around January. Males establish dominance in their groups during winter, clashing violently by ramming into and hitting each other with their bills. Like other bustards, the male great bustard displays and competes for the attention of females on what is known as a lek. In this species, the male has a flamboyant display beginning with the strutting male puffing up his throat to the size of a football. He then tilts forwards and pulls his head in so that the long whiskery chin feathers point upwards and the head is no longer visible. He next cocks his tail flat along his back, exposing the normally hidden bright white plumage then he lowers his wings, with the primary flight feathers folded but with the white secondaries fanning out. The displaying males, who may walk around for several minutes at a time with feathers flared and head buried waiting for hens to arrive, have been described as a "foam-bath" because of their appearance. All breeding great bustards also moult again from June to September.
One to three olive or tan coloured, glossy eggs (two eggs being the average) are laid by the female in May or June. The nests, which are shallow scrapes made by the female on dry, soft slopes and plains, are usually situated close to the prior lek location. Nests are situated in sparse clusters, with a study in Inner Mongolia finding nests at a minimal 9 m (30 ft) apart from each other. In the same study, nests were placed at mid-elevation on a hill, at about 190 to 230 m (620 to 750 ft). Nesting sites are typically in dense grassy vegetation about 15 to 35 cm (5.9 to 13.8 in), likely for protection against predation, with extensive exposure to sunlight. Eggs weigh about 150 g (5.3 oz) and are on average 79.4 mm (3.13 in) tall by 56.8 mm (2.24 in) wide. The female incubates the eggs alone for 21 to 28 days. The chicks almost immediately leave the nest after they hatch, although they do not move very far from their mother until they are at least 1 year old. Young great bustards begin developing their adult plumage at about 2 months, and begin to develop flying skills at the same time. They practice by stretching, running, flapping, and making small hops and jumps to get airborne. By three months they are able to fly reasonable distances. If threatened, the young stand still, using their downy plumage, mainly sepia in colour with paler buffy streaks, as camouflage. Juveniles are independent by their first winter, but normally stay with their mother until the next breeding season. Males usually start to mate from 5 to 6 years of age, although may engage in breeding display behaviour at a younger age. Females usually first breed at 2 to 3 years old.
Great bustard