Black Grouse

Lyrurus tetrix

Genus · Black Grouses Family · Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies
Observation tips Difficulty: MODERATE
Best time
🌅 Early morning
Activity
☀️ Diurnal
Best months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Observation habitat
Forest deciduousIsolated treesLeks

In winter, look for small flocks feeding on birch buds high in the trees. In spring, males gather at traditional leks before sunrise, while during the rest of the year Black Grouse are much more secretive and are most often found along forest edges, bogs and open heathland.

Black Grouse

♂ Male · ♀ Female

Stats
Wingspan65–80 cm
Weight750–1450 g
Length40–55 cm
Lifespan wild5–10 yrs
Size
XS
S
M
L
XL
Nesting
Nest typeScrape
Clutch size6–10 eggs
Incubation24–27 days
Breeding months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Regional Status (Europe)
LC
Least Concern (Europe)
IUCN Red List
MigrationResident
Social BehaviourFlocking

Diet: Herbivore

🫐Berries
🦗Insects
🌲Pine needles
🍃Plants
🌻Seeds

Habitat

🌳 Forest deciduous🌲🌳 Forest mixed🌿 Grassland🌾 Marsh
✦ Fun Fact

In deep snow, Black Grouse burrow into 'snow-holes' to stay warm. They can spend up to 20 hours a day under the snow to hide from predators.

About

A large game bird of forest edges, moorlands, and bogs. It is famous for 'lekking'—a communal display where males gather at dawn to compete. It is a resident in Northern Europe and the Alps. It needs a mix of young woodland for cover and open ground for feeding.

Behaviour

At the lek, males fan their lyre-shaped tails and inflate red eyebrows. They produce a bubbling cooing and a harsh hiss that can be heard from a kilometre away. Outside the breeding season, they are elusive. They often spend the winter in small groups feeding on birch buds.

Sexual Dimorphism

♂ Male

Jet-black plumage with a blue sheen and a lyre-shaped tail. He has bright red fleshy combs over each eye.

♀ Female

Much smaller and camouflaged in intricate bars of grey, buff, and black. Her tail is slightly forked but not lyre-shaped.

Similar species

Western Capercaillie
🐦
Western Capercaillie
Tetrao urogallus
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