Lyrurus tetrix
The Black Grouse (Lyrurus tetrix) is a magnificent gamebird renowned for its striking sexual dimorphism and elaborate courtship displays. Males are instantly recognizable with their iridescent black plumage, brilliant red wattles (combs) above the eyes, and a distinct, lyre-shaped tail, often fanned during display, typically measuring 50-60 cm in length and weighing 1-1.5 kg. Females, known as 'greyhens,' are considerably smaller, about 40-45 cm and 0.75-1.1 kg, with cryptic barred brown and ...
Found in a mosaic of open moorland, heathland, boggy areas, and forest edges, typically at lower to mid-elevations. They prefer transitional zones between dense coniferous or broadleaf woodlands and more open, shrubby areas.
Primarily herbivorous, consuming a wide range of plant matter including buds, shoots, leaves, catkins (especially birch and alder), berries, and seeds. Chicks, however, rely heavily on insects and other invertebrates for protein during their rapid growth phase.
Black Grouse are largely diurnal, spending their days foraging and resting, often roosting in trees or burrowing into snow for warmth and protection during winter nights. Foraging involves pecking at vegetation on the ground, in shrubs, and occasionally in trees. During the breeding season, males...
The Black Grouse has a broad Palearctic distribution, extending across northern Eurasia from Great Britain and Scandinavia eastward through continental Europe and Russia to Siberia, Mongolia, and northern China. It is largely a resident species, with no significant migratory movements, although s...
Least Concern
- The iconic lyre-shaped tail of the male Black Grouse is so distinctive that its genus name, Lyrurus, literally means "lyre-tailed. - Black Grouse engage in a fascinating mating ritual called lekking, where males gather in traditional display grounds to compete for female attention through elabo...