Red Grouse
(Lagopus lagopus)
Description
This short plump bird is reddish brown in colour. It has a small head with a slightly hook-tipped bill. Males have black tail feathers and white legs. Females are less remarkable in colour. When disturbed from ground nesting site their wings make a whirring sound.
Behaviour
Red grouse live in treeless uplands where dwarf shrubs and heather flourish. Males will develop and defend a territory. This will become more vigorous in early spring when females will decide on their mate for the year.
Size
They range from 37-42 cm in length with a wingspan of 55-66 cm and can weigh 450-750 g.
Where to see them
Widespread on heather moorlands
When to see them
All year round
What they eat
Heather flowers, seed, berries and sometime insects
Status
Amber Status IUCN list
Distribution
Different subspecies of the willow grouse are found across Eurasia. The red grouse is found in upland areas of Scotland, England and Wales.
Threats
Major threat is the loss of heather moorland to new conifer plantations. They are also at risk from disease and predation.
Fascinating facts
Red grouse is a subspecies of the willow grouse. These species will usually moult in the winter to reveal a white plumage, however, the red grouse does not.