The black grouse, also known as the blackgame or blackcock, belongs to the order Galliformes and the family Phasianidae. Galliformes are heavy-bodied ground-feeding birds that include chickens, turkeys, quails, partridges, pheasants, and grouse. The Phasianidae family includes pheasants, partridges, and Old World quail. So in summary, the black grouse is in the bird order Galliformes and family Phasianidae.
What are some key features of Galliformes?
There are several distinct features that characterize the Galliformes order of birds:
- Heavy-bodied birds with rounded bodies and short necks
- Strong and thick legs and feet adapted for walking and scratching on the ground
- Toes arranged with three pointing forward and one pointing back (anisodactyl toe arrangement)
- Small rounded wings not suited for extensive flight
- Omnivorous diets consisting mainly of grains, seeds, fruits, and insects
- Have a crop used for storing food
- Nest on the ground and have precocial young that are active soon after hatching
- Known for their gamebird species pursued by hunters
The black grouse exhibits all of these Galliformes features. Its heavy body, strong legs, rounded wings, omnivorous diet, ground nesting habits, and status as a gamebird are characteristic of the order.
What are the main physical features of Phasianidae?
There are several standard physical traits found in the Phasianidae family of birds:
- Medium to large-sized birds
- Long broad tails
- Brightly colored plumage on the males
- Duller colored females suited for camouflage
- Have ornamental traits like fleshy combs or wattles
- Sharp claws called spur on their legs used for defense
- Have feathers specialized for display purposes
- Can produce a wide range of vocalizations
- Omnivorous, feeding on insects, seeds, grains, berries
- Nest on the ground with precocial young
The male black grouse has many of these typical Phasianidae features including a long broad tail, colorful black and white plumage, red combs over the eyes, sharply clawed toes, specialized feathers like a lyre-shaped tail, and a range of mating vocalizations and displays.
What are some key facts about the black grouse?
Here are some key facts about the black grouse:
- Scientific name: Tetrao tetrix
- Other common names: blackcock, blackgame
- Average length: 50-58 cm
- Wingspan: 80-95 cm
- Average weight: 0.9-2.1 kg
- Lifespan: Approximately 5 years
- Range: Europe and northern Asia
- Habitat: Moorlands, bogs, open heaths
- Conservation status: Least concern
The black grouse is a medium to large-sized bird, averaging just under 1 kg in weight. The male is larger than the female. They inhabit open habitats throughout northern Eurasia. Although populations have declined, the black grouse is still relatively common throughout much of its range.
What does the black grouse look like?
The black grouse shows distinct sexual dimorphism with the male and female looking quite different:
Male
- Mostly black plumage with white undertail coverts
- Distinct red combs above the eyes
- Long black tail feathers
- Bright white underwing coverts
- Striking blue-black lyre shaped tail during breeding displays
Female
- Feathers cryptically colored grey, brown, buff
- Small head comb
- More evenly colored shorter tail
- Mottled brown underwing coverts
The male’s predominantly black coloration and ornamentations like the eye combs and specialized tail feathers are for attracting females and competing with other males. The female’s subdued coloration allows her to blend into nesting grounds.
What does the black grouse eat?
Black grouse are omnivorous, eating a varied diet:
- Seeds and buds of plants like heather, grasses, sedges
- Berries and fruits of shrubs when available
- Conifer needles and twigs in winter
- Insects like beetles, ants, butterflies
Chicks hatching in early summer rely more heavily on protein-rich insects to fuel their growth. In winter, black grouse shift their diet to more twigs, conifer needles, fruits and buds which persist through the cold months. They spend much of their time foraging on the ground for food.
Where does the black grouse live?
The black grouse has a wide distribution across northern Eurasia:
- Throughout Great Britain
- Scandinavia
- Baltic regions
- Russia
- Poland
- Northern Mongolia and China
- Northern Japan
Within this range, black grouse inhabit open habitats like moorlands, bogs, meadows, boreal forests. They avoid dense forest and urban areas. Their elevation range extends from sea level up to 1,500 m in some mountain regions.
Black grouse habitat and nesting
Key habitat and nesting features include:
- Nest on the ground in hollows lined with vegetation
- Require thick ground cover for concealment
- Prefer areas with mixed vegetation types
- Depend on conifers for winter food and shelter
- Male territories called leks for breeding displays
- Nesting grounds usually within a few km of leks
Declines have occurred in parts of the black grouse range due to habitat loss from agriculture, forestry, and development. Protection of breeding and wintering grounds is important for conservation.
Black grouse breeding and reproduction
The black grouse has an elaborate breeding behavior:
- Polygamous mating system with male displaying on leks
- Males perform elaborate displays and vocalizations to attract females
- Most males don’t mate, small number get most matings
- Nest on ground with 8-10 eggs per clutch
- Eggs incubated for 21-25 days before hatching
- Precocial downy chicks leave nest shortly after hatching
- Chicks fledge in 5-6 weeks after hatching
The male’s striking breeding plumage and vocalizations are key to attracting mates. Even though most males don’t breed, there is strong sexual selection for these traits.
Black grouse status and conservation
Current conservation status:
- Globally listed as Least Concern by IUCN Red List
- Declined in parts of range like United Kingdom
- Population trends can fluctuate
- Threats include habitat loss and degradation
- Controlled hunting allowed in many areas
- Reintroduction programs in some areas like England
Although still relatively common, active conservation measures are needed to maintain black grouse populations. Protection of breeding habitats and winter food sources are key conservation priorities.
Conclusion
In summary, the black grouse is a medium-sized upland gamebird belonging to the order Galliformes and family Phasianidae. Some of its key features include its stocky body, strong legs, male ornamentation, ground nesting habits, varied omnivorous diet, and elaborate mating displays on lek breeding grounds. Maintaining suitable moorland and bog breeding habitat and wintering areas will be important for the continued conservation of black grouse populations.