Western Capercaillie
Tetrao urogallus
- Class
- Bird
- Rarity
- Epic
- Observations
- 2,852
- Most observed in
- 🇷🇺 Russia
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
The western capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), also known as the Eurasian capercaillie, wood grouse, heather cock, cock-of-the-woods, or simply capercaillie , is a heavy member of the grouse tribe and the largest of all extant grouse species. Found across Europe and the Palearctic, this primarily-ground-dwelling forest grouse is renowned for its courtship display. The bird shows extreme sexual dimorphism, with males nearly twice the size of females. The global population is listed as "least concern" under the IUCN, although the populations of central Europe are declining and fragmented, or possibly extirpated. The western capercaillie is one of two living species under the genus Tetrao, which also includes the lesser-known black-billed capercaillie.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Western capercaillie”.