by Christopher Chatterton

Created on: September 18, 2010

Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix) are moderately-sized members of the Grouse family: Tetraonidae. They are inextricably linked to upland and moorland habitats, as well as new forestry plantations. British Black Grouse live in the uplands of the Northwest of England; in Wales, the northern Pennines and in Scotland. The species is also found from the Arctic to the Alps and east across to Asia (Holden & Cleeves, 2002).

Identification

At 16-22-inches in length (40-55cm) the Black Grouse is slightly larger than its close relative the Red Grouse (Lagopus lagopus). The male is a stout, stocky bird with glossy black with a red wattle over the eye, and has a white wing-bar and a black, lyre-shaped tail with white feathers under the tail that are used in display.

The female is smaller than the male, with grey-brown plumage that has darker freckles and bars, a pale wing-bar a slightly forked tail. The male and female Black Grouse also display white patches under the wings in flight. Females show a thin, pale wing-bar on the upper-wing. Juveniles look like a small and pale female. Adult Black Grouse moult in late summer when the males become duller for a short time (Holden & Cleeves, 2002).

Behaviour

Black Grouse feed predominantly on the ground. Each day at dawn and dusk adult Black Grouse partake in communal displays at traditional sites known as 'leks', which are used throughout the year, but especially during the autumn and in spring. Displaying birds are mostly found in the early morning hours at dawn.

In a lek, males strut and posture to each other to determine which is the most dominant, all the time making a far-carrying, bubbling song and a harsh, scolding sound (Holden & Cleeves, 2002). Leks also attract the attention of females and the successful male will mate with females nearby. During the winter Black Grouse gather in flocks during the day and roost in groups at night, often sheltering amongst dense, long Ling heather (Calluna vulgaris) (Burton, 1981).

Voice

Black Grouse are mostly silent except around the lek. The male has a loud pigeon-like 'cook-roo'. The female has a loud cackle or 'kok, kok' flight call.

Habitat

Black Grouse live in upland habitats amongst Ling heather, as well as around the edges of moors and hill farms. Specifically they favours areas where woodland (often conifer plantations) are adjacent to open land. Black Grouse can also be found around the edges of ancient pine forests, and live at lower altitudes farther north in Britain

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