| Black Grouse | |
|---|---|
 Male | |
 Female | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Galliformes |
| Family: | Phasianidae |
| Genus: | Lyrurus |
| Species: | Lyrurus tetrix |
The Black Grouse (Lyrurus tetrix) is a large Eurasian mountain game bird.
Occurrence[]
It lives in woods and meadows in central and northern Eurasia. In the southern portion of its range, it occurs exclusively in mountainous areas. In Northern Europe, it is particularly common in Scandinavia.
Appearance[]
The all-black males have distinctive red wattle over the eye and show a striking white stripe along each wing in flight. They have a lyre-shaped tail which is fanned out and raised to show white under-tail feathers when displaying. The smaller grey-brown females have a slightly notched tail. Their plumage is mottled and highly cryptic. Black Grouse measure 40-55 cm in length, 65-80 cm in wingspan, and 750-1480 g in weight.
Voice[]
Males produce a remarkable, bubbling call (Also mentioned in "Behavior" section) usually during leks. These sounds are produced with the help of the air sacs within the neck. A guttural hissing noise is sometimes emitted.
Behavior[]
In late autumn, flocks are formed, which are both mixed and consisting of either males or females. Winter flocks of Black Grouse can number up to several hundred birds, and such a flock spends all winter within a small area. Black Grouse are not very hardy. Even in moderate frosts at -20°C, they can spend 23 hours a day under snow.
Feeding[]
Black Grouse feed mainly on vegetables and seeds and tend to forage on the ground. They can forage in shrubs or trees during winter.
Breeding and Nesting[]
A peculiar bubbling call of the Black Grouse, reminiscent of the gushing water, can be heard since the beginning of March. However, the actual lekking times of the males begins later in the second half of April to early May, when the open snow will fall. The male Black Grouse stretches its neck and head parallel to the ground, spreads its tail wide, slightly sets its wings aside, and in this position, moves the area and struts around in small steps, giving off its characteristic calls over and over again.
Females make nests on the ground, which are shallow depressions that are lined with grasses and moss. Mainly, a clutch of 7 to 9 eggs are laid, and the incubation period lasts around 23-25 days. The broods first stick to the thick grass on the edges of the meadows near the forest nodes, and then, when the chicks are old enough, move to the berries.
Black Grouse and Capercaillies sometimes interbreed. The hybrid is known as Rackelhahn or Rackelwild, and is thought to be infertile.
Conservation[]
Habitat loss and overgrazing have resulted in severe population declines, making this grouse a Red List species. Positive habitat management is helping them to increase in some areas.