Page 150 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

GAMEBIRDS
Order Galliformes Family Tetraonidae Species Tetrao urogallus
Capercaillie red wattle short,
hooked
thick bill
spiky
brown beard
wings white-speckled,
broad, round
black tail
MALE
huge,
blackish
grey body
bold
white
shoulder
FEMALE dark bars on spot
rufous-ginger
dark bars body
on orange
tail
IN FLIGHT
broad
orange
chest
MALE
FEMALE
white patches on
flanks and belly
he largest grouse and a bird of pine forest and boggy forest FLIGHT: often flies up far away and goes off in
Tclearings with thick undergrowth, the Capercaillie is sensitive long, low, fast flight with heavy wingbeats; also
to disturbance and typically shy and secretive. It may burst almost bursts up at close range with great clatter.
from underfoot in a forest, but usually flies
up at long range from an open clearing.
It is nowhere common and in some areas,
including Scotland, seriously threatened.
VOICE Pheasant-like crow; male in spring
has prolonged, croaking “song” ending with
cork-popping and gurgling notes.
NESTING Hollow on ground, often at bases
of trees, lined with grass, pine needles, and
twigs; 5–8 eggs; 1 brood; March–July. SPRING DISPLAY
FEEDING Pine needles, buds of several Where they are common, females may gather
shrubs and trees, shoots and leaves, around displaying males in early spring.
and berries of various herbs
and shrubs, especially bilberry; OCCURRENCE
feeds in trees in winter. Breeds in Scotland and N Spain,
widely in Scandinavia and from
SIMILAR SPECIES Alps eastwards, declining in
many areas. Prefers ancient,
BLACK GROUSE 2 natural pine forest; more sparsely
similar to 2; found in pine plantations. Feeds
see p.149
in nearby boggy clearings with
notched bilberry, juniper, and heather, and
tail
on treetops in winter, but remains
within such areas all year.
PINE FOREST BIRD
greyer The Capercaillie inhabits pine forest, feeding on the treetops in winter, Seen in the UK
and smaller
and in marshy clearings nearby during the rest of the year. J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 60–85cm (23 1 ⁄2 –34in) Wingspan 0.87–1.25m (2 3 ⁄4 –4ft) Weight 1.5–4.4kg (3 1 ⁄4 –9 3 ⁄4lb)
Social Family groups Lifespan Up to 10 years Status Secure†
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