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Difference between revisions of "Black Grouse" - BirdForum Opus

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;Tetrao tetrix
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[[Image:Black_Grouse.jpg|thumb|500px|right|Photo by {{user|IanF|IanF}}<br />Photo taken:Langdon Beck, Teesdale]]
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[[Image:Black_Grouse.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by IanF]]
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;[[:Category:Lyrurus|Lyrurus]] tetrix
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==Description==
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''Tetrao tetrix''
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Taken at Langdon Beck, Teesdale.
 
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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Patchy breeding range in north and west Britain, the Low Countries and Germany, the Alps and the mountains of Central Europe. More widespread in Scandinavia, found throughout most of [[Norway]], [[Sweden]] and Finland except the extreme north and from southern and eastern Poland, Belarus and the Baltic States east across Russia.  
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*Red wattle over the eye
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*Feathered legs
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'''Male''': 49-55cm.  Blue-black glossy plumage, white wingbar and under-tail coverts. Lyre-shaped tail, which appears forked in flight.<br />
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'''Female''' and '''juvenile''': 40-45cm.  Greyish-brown, mottled black upperparts and barred below. Pale white wing bar. Forked tail.
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====Similar Species====
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Female is similar to the smaller [[Red Grouse]] but can be told by the less rufous plumage.
  
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Formerly much more widespread, now rare in many parts of range and no longer breeds in Denmark. The species has been in severe decline in Britain for many years, especially in Wales but there has been a slight recovery there in recent years. Also very rare in northern England and great care should be taken to avoid disturbance. Resident throughout range but there may be occasional movements in the north at times of peak population.  
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==Distribution==
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[[Image:35827black Grouse female 117 filtered.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by the late '''[http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=35827 Jim Wood]'''<br />This was one of two female Black Grouse who appeared from behind a rock and entered the Lek while the males were displaying both females started displaying in the centre of the Lek then proceeded to fight it out over a displaying Male, the male then joined in the scrap. ]]
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Patchy '''breeding''' range in north and west [[Britain]], the Low Countries and [[Germany]], the Alps and the mountains of Central [[Europe]]. More widespread in [[Scandinavia]], found throughout most of [[Norway]], [[Sweden]] and [[Finland]] except the extreme north and from southern and eastern [[Poland]], [[Belarus]] and the [[Baltic States]] east across [[Russia]].  
  
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Recorded as a vagrant in Greece, far from normal range although a former breeder in Bulgaria and Turkey.  
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Formerly much more widespread, now rare in many parts of range and no longer breeds in [[Denmark]]. The species has been in severe decline in Britain for many years, especially in [[Wales]] but there has been a slight recovery there in recent years. Also very rare in northern [[England]] and great care should be taken to avoid disturbance. Resident throughout range but there may be occasional movements in the north at times of peak population.  
  
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Recorded as a '''vagrant''' in [[Greece]], far from normal range although a former breeder in [[Bulgaria]] and [[Turkey]].
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==Taxonomy==
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Placed in genus [[:Category:Tetrao|Tetrao]] by some authorities.
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====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>====
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*''L. t. britannicus'': male glossed more blue and female darker and more rufous
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:*Northern [[England]], [[Scotland]] and [[Inner Hebrides]]
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*''L. t. tetrix'':
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:*[[Scandinavia]] to [[France]] and northern [[Italy]] east to [[Siberia]]
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[[Image:Eurasin Black Grouse male flight.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|aritervo|aritervo}}<br />[[Finland]], November 2007]]
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*''L. t. viridanus'': males are glossed greener and have more white above, female paler than nominate
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:*South-eastern [[Russia]] to [[Siberia|Siberian]] steppes
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*''L. t. tschusii'':
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:*Southern [[Siberia]] south to north-western Altai and Sayan mountains
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*''L. t. baikalensis'':
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:*South-eastern [[Siberia]] to northern [[Mongolia]] and north-western Manchuria
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*''L. t. mongolicus'':
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:*[[Russia|Russian]] Altai to Chinese [[Turkestan]]
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*''L. t. ussuriensis'':
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:*South-eastern [[Siberia]] (Lake Baikal) to north-western [[Korea]] and northern [[Mongolia]]
  
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Subspecies The nominate race tetrix is found over most of Europe with britannicus in Britain, male glossed more blue and female darker and more rufous, and viridanus in south-east Russia, males are glossed greener and have more white above, female paler than nominate. Occasionally hybridises with the Capercaillie to produce the "Rackelhahn" and hybrids with Willow Grouse and Pheasant have also been recorded.  
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Occasionally hybridises with the [[Western Capercaillie|Capercaillie]] to produce the "Rackelhahn", and hybrids with [[Willow Grouse]] and [[Common Pheasant]] have also been recorded.  
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==Habitat==
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Forest edge, open forest and clearings, usually conifer or birch. Also swampy heathland and moorland with scattered trees.
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==Behaviour==
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Frequently sits in trees.
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====Breeding====
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The female builds nest, usually on the ground; 8 -10 eggs are laid from mid May and are incubated for about 24 days by the female who cares for the young.
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====Diet====
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The diet includes buds, shoots, catkins and berries.
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====Vocalisation====
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{{Audio|Tetrao tetrix (song).mp3}}
  
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==References==
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Habitat Forest edge, open forest and clearings, usually conifer or birch. Also swampy heathland and moorland with scattered trees.
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#{{Ref-Clements6thDec08}}#Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
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#Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
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==Bird Song==
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{{ref}}
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<flashmp3>Tetrao tetrix (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
 
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''[[Media:Tetrao tetrix (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
 
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
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*[http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showgallery.php?mcats=all&what=allfields&si=black+grouse View more images of Black Grouse in the gallery]
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Use ''Tetrao tetrix'' to {{GSearch|Tetrao+tetrix}}
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[[Category:Birds]]
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Use ''Lyrurus tetrix'' to {{GSearch|Lyrurus+tetrix}}
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Use Black Grouse to {{GSearch|"black grouse"}}
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<br />
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{{GS-checked}}
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Tetrao]] [[Category:Lyrurus]] [[Category:Bird Songs]]

Latest revision as of 14:13, 6 February 2022

Photo by IanF
Photo taken:Langdon Beck, Teesdale
Lyrurus tetrix

Tetrao tetrix

Identification

  • Red wattle over the eye
  • Feathered legs

Male: 49-55cm. Blue-black glossy plumage, white wingbar and under-tail coverts. Lyre-shaped tail, which appears forked in flight.
Female and juvenile: 40-45cm. Greyish-brown, mottled black upperparts and barred below. Pale white wing bar. Forked tail.

Similar Species

Female is similar to the smaller Red Grouse but can be told by the less rufous plumage.

Distribution

Photo by the late Jim Wood
This was one of two female Black Grouse who appeared from behind a rock and entered the Lek while the males were displaying both females started displaying in the centre of the Lek then proceeded to fight it out over a displaying Male, the male then joined in the scrap.

Patchy breeding range in north and west Britain, the Low Countries and Germany, the Alps and the mountains of Central Europe. More widespread in Scandinavia, found throughout most of Norway, Sweden and Finland except the extreme north and from southern and eastern Poland, Belarus and the Baltic States east across Russia.

Formerly much more widespread, now rare in many parts of range and no longer breeds in Denmark. The species has been in severe decline in Britain for many years, especially in Wales but there has been a slight recovery there in recent years. Also very rare in northern England and great care should be taken to avoid disturbance. Resident throughout range but there may be occasional movements in the north at times of peak population.

Recorded as a vagrant in Greece, far from normal range although a former breeder in Bulgaria and Turkey.

Taxonomy

Placed in genus Tetrao by some authorities.

Subspecies[1]

  • L. t. britannicus: male glossed more blue and female darker and more rufous
  • L. t. tetrix:
Photo by aritervo
Finland, November 2007
  • L. t. viridanus: males are glossed greener and have more white above, female paler than nominate
  • L. t. tschusii:
  • Southern Siberia south to north-western Altai and Sayan mountains
  • L. t. baikalensis:
  • L. t. mongolicus:
  • L. t. ussuriensis:

Occasionally hybridises with the Capercaillie to produce the "Rackelhahn", and hybrids with Willow Grouse and Common Pheasant have also been recorded.

Habitat

Forest edge, open forest and clearings, usually conifer or birch. Also swampy heathland and moorland with scattered trees.

Behaviour

Frequently sits in trees.

Breeding

The female builds nest, usually on the ground; 8 -10 eggs are laid from mid May and are incubated for about 24 days by the female who cares for the young.

Diet

The diet includes buds, shoots, catkins and berries.

Vocalisation

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
  2. Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
  3. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition

Recommended Citation

External Links

Use Tetrao tetrix to

Use Lyrurus tetrix to

Use Black Grouse to


GSearch checked for 2020 platform.

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