#Capercaillie

[herpsandbirds]

Western Capercaillie aka Cock-of-the-Woods aka Woodgrouse (Tetrao urogallus), male displaying, family Phasianidae, order Galliformes, Scotland

photograph by Paul Cameron Images

[sitting-on-me-bum]

Capercaillie

By Sam Linton

[halljavalge]

Source: Erik Mandre photo - teder. Western capercaillie on a fallen tree.

ℍ𝐚𝓵ｌ נ𝐀 𝔳คĻǤẸ

[vintagewildlife]

Capercaillie By: Unknown photographer From: Wildlife Fact-File 1990s

[immoren]

Video has English subs

[pleistocene-pride]

The western capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), also known as the Eurasian capercaillie, wood grouse, heather cock, cock-of-the-woods, or simply capercaillie is a species in the grouse family which is endemic to the taiga and boreal forest of Northern Eurasia, from Scotland in the west to Russia in the east. They are typically diurnal ground dwelling birds which while capable of flight, are fairly clumsy in the air due to there short rounded wings. While taking off they produce a sudden thundering noise that deters predators. At night they rest in the horizontal branches of tree stands or within thick ground cover such as bushes and sedges, emerging during the day to feed upon seeds, buds, leaves, berries, insects, grasses, and conifer needles. Capercaillies are themselves eaten by wolves, lynx, foxes, eagles, martens, bears, boar, goshawks, and owls. With females reaching around 21- 25 inches (54- 64 cms) long & 3.5 to 5.8lbs (1.5 to 2.5kg) in weight while the male can reach 29 to 40 inches (74 -100cms) long and 9lbs to upwards of 15lbs (4 to 7kg) in weight, the western capercaillie is one of the most size sexually dimorphic living bird species, only exceeded by the larger types of bustards and a select few members of the pheasant family. The females upper parts are brown with black and silver barring; on the underside they are more light and buffish yellow. While the males are dark grey to dark brown, with the breast feathers being dark metallic green. The belly and undertail coverts vary from black to white. Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow. They have feathered legs, and their toe rows of small, elongated horn tacks provide a snowshoe effect enabling them to traverse thick snow with ease. The breeding season begins in March or April and lasts until May or June. Three-quarters of this long courting season is mere territorial competition between neighboring cocks or cocks on the same courting ground. Towards the end of the courting season the hens arrive on the courting grounds, at which time the dominate cock or cocks flies to an open space nearby and continuously displays. If impressed one or more hens will approach and be mounted. Females will lay 3 to 12 eggs over a 10 day period, which she will incubate for 26 -28 days until hatching. The young will remain with there mother for around 3 months, Under ideal conditions a western capercaillie may live upwards of 18 years.

[shalmonsdraws]

mystery custom bonus doodle for @skoryx !

[s38s73r]

New definitive coinage, UK, 2023

[dusky-doe]

A Western Capercaillie for vulnerable animals week! I'm really proud of this one.

[podartists]

Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) | Animal portraiture (1912) | Biodiversity Heritage Library | Flickr | Public domain

[camigani]

Capercaillie Smack Attack

[birchleahf]

Capercaillie calling in a winter landscape❄️✨

[sitting-on-me-bum]

Western Capercaillie

By Bonnie Forman-Franco

[halljavalge]

Source: Erik Mandre photo - metsis. Western capercaillie.

ℍ𝐚𝓵ｌ נ𝐀 𝔳คĻǤẸ

[vintagewildlife]

Capercaillie By: Unknown photographer From: Wildlife Fact-File 1990s

[thatnostalgiccarp]

Critter fact #92:

Daily critter fact #90: The capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), a European game bird, is the largest member of the grouse family.