Tetrao urogallus
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Mass
~3 kg
Habitat
Forests
Diet
Plants and grasses
How to recognize it
The western capercaillie is a large, forest-dwelling grouse that spends much of its time on the ground. The cock is especially striking in its sheer scale and heavy, deliberate way of moving, while the hen is much smaller and more discreet.
In spring, males gather at display grounds and begin calling at dawn with a peculiar mix of clicks and hissing sounds. They become so absorbed that they lose much of their usual caution, and fights between males can be fierce.
It lives in dense conifer and mixed forests, and also favors mossy bogs rich in berries. In summer it feeds on shoots, leaves, berries, seeds, and insects, then switches mostly to conifer needles and buds in winter; it is generally sedentary, though it may make seasonal movements.
Quick Facts
The western capercaillie is a large, forest-dwelling grouse that spends much of its time on the ground. The cock is especially striking in its sheer scale and heavy, deliberate way of moving, while the hen is much smaller and more discreet.
In spring, males gather at display grounds and begin calling at dawn with a peculiar mix of clicks and hissing sounds. They become so absorbed that they lose much of their usual caution, and fights between males can be fierce.
It lives in dense conifer and mixed forests, and also favors mossy bogs rich in berries. In summer it feeds on shoots, leaves, berries, seeds, and insects, then switches mostly to conifer needles and buds in winter; it is generally sedentary, though it may make seasonal movements.
