male	male female European distribution Males lekking

Identification

Male Black Grouse could only be confused with Capercaillies but they are smaller with forked tails and white wing bars. Females are more like Red Grouse but are bigger, greyer and have narrow white wing bars.

Habitat

Breeds and winters on heaths and moorland edges usually with birch scrub nearby.

Behaviour

Displaying Black Grouse are a joy to behold. Groups of male birds gather at dawn in certain open areas which become display arenas called leks. Each male competes with others by calling, posturing, chasing and even grappling in an attempt to occupy the central part of the lek. Males which win this contest are the ones chosen for copulation by females which arrive at the lek when they are fertile.

Migration

Most populations are sedentary but in Belgium birds have been shown to wander several kilometres and heavy snowfall may cause long-distance movements.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Black Grouse is classed as Local: generally fairly regular or common species that a 'county lister' or a birding beginner might be interested in going to see. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

undisc. site, Perth/Kinross 01/02/2010	Alston Moor, Cumbria 20/01/2010	Alston Moor, Cumbria 20/01/2010	undisc. site, Northumbs 20/01/2010	undisc. site, Cumbria 20/01/2010
undisc. site, Cumbria 20/01/2010	undisc. site, S Yorks 27/09/2008	undisc. site, N Yorks 12/07/2009	undisc. site, N Yorks 12/07/2009	Tulloch, Highland 24/06/2009

 View all pictures of Black Grouse

Black Grouse breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Austria
Belarus
Belgium
Britain
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Italy
Latvia
Lichtenstein
Lithuania
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Romania
Russia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine

http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob3320.htm   BTO BirdFacts: Black Grouse	Edit this link
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	Forestry Commission: New woods to take root in the northeast	Friday 11th December 2009
	Cash pledge is a boost for Black Grouse in the Northumberland National Park.   read on
	RSPB: Mixed year for Black Grouse	Wednesday 28th January 2009
	Whisky deal will help boost fortunes of one of UK's rarest birds.   read on
	Action for nature in Scotland's woodlands	Tuesday 26th August 2008
	A new co-ordinated plan to improve habitat for Black Grouse and Capercaillie as well as butterflies and juniper.   read on
	Free-riding Snow Sports, a Novel Serious Threat to Wildlife	Wednesday 7th March 2007
	Research shows that trendy snow sports are threatening the survival of Alpine wildlife, particularly for species such as the Black Grouse.   read on
	Can't see the grouse for the trees: New study to aid recovery plan for endangered species	Friday 22nd December 2006
	A direct link has been established for the first time between falling Black Grouse numbers and maturing commercial forestry plantations.   read on
	Black Grouse in the Upper Derwent Valley – an Update	Tuesday 21st March 2006
	A project to re-introduce Black Grouse to the Upper Derwent Valley, in the heart of the Derbyshire Peak District, was started in October 2003. It is hoped that the project will result in the first wild-bred birds in the Valley for over 20 years.
	Back from the Brink. No 2: Black Grouse	Tuesday 17th January 2006
	The second of our articles based on a RSPB booklet charting the recovery of some of the UK's rarest breeding birds. Here we look at Black Grouse.   read on
	Black Grouse return to the Upper Derwent Valley	Wednesday 15th October 2003
	The re-introduction of Black Grouse to the Upper Derwent Valley, in the heart of the Derbyshire Peak District, has begun; Matthew Capper outlines the project.   read on

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