| Black Grouse | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific Classification | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Tetrao tetrix |
The Black Grouse, Tetrao tetrix, is a large bird in the grouse family. It is a sedentary species, breeding across northern Eurasia in moorland and bogs with some trees. These bird have a group display or lek in early spring.
As with many Gamebirds, the male is larger than the female and very distinctive, with black plumage, apart from red eyebrows and a white wingbar, and a lyre-shaped tail, which appears forked in flight. His song is loud, bubbling and somewhat dove-like.
The female is greyish-brown and has a cackling call. She takes all responsibility for nesting and caring for the chicks, as is typical with gamebirds.
This species is declining in western Europe due to loss of habitat.