Lagopus scotica
The Red Grouse (Lagopus scotica) is a distinctive medium-sized gamebird, endemic to the moorlands and uplands of Great Britain and Ireland, and is often considered a distinct species or a subspecies of the Willow Ptarmigan (*Lagopus lagopus*). It measures approximately 35-43 cm in length with a wingspan of 55-66 cm and weighs between 600-800 grams. Its most striking field mark, and indeed its defining characteristic, is its rich, all-reddish-brown plumage year-round, which serves as excellent...
Exclusively inhabits open heather moorland, heathland, and bogland at low to moderate elevations across the British Isles, requiring deep heather for cover and food.
Comprises almost exclusively of the shoots, buds, flowers, and seeds of heather (*Calluna vulgaris*), supplemented with berries and some insects, especially for growing chicks.
Red Grouse are primarily diurnal, typically active during cooler parts of the day and roosting in shallow scrapes within dense heather or beneath rocks. Their foraging strategy is simple yet effective, pecking at heather shoots, buds, and berries directly from the plant. Males are highly territor...
The Red Grouse is entirely endemic to the British Isles, with its primary distribution across the upland heather moorlands of Scotland, England, Wales, and localized areas of Ireland. It is a resident species, exhibiting no migratory movements beyond localized dispersal, remaining in its moorland...
Least Concern
- The Red Grouse is the only bird in the genus *Lagopus* (ptarmigans) that does not turn white in winter, maintaining its reddish-brown plumage year-round. - Its distinctive call is often transliterated as 'Go-back, go-back, go-back!', a sound synonymous with the British moorlands. - The Red Grou...