Western Capercaillie
Western Capercaillie
Tetrao urogallus
Aves
UNCOMMON

Stats

Lifespan
10-16 yrs
Size
Large
Diet
Herbivore
Activity
Diurnal
Social
Solitary
Biome
Boreal forest
Range
Eurasia
Movement
Walking
Breeding
Egg-laying
Defense
Camouflage
Status
Uncommon

About

Western Capercaillie, 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.

Life cycle

  1. 1.
    egg
    A large clutch of eggs sits in a shallow ground scrape, incubated by the hen until the brood hatches together.
  2. 2.
    hatchling chick
    A downy chick leaves the nest within hours of hatching and pecks for food alongside the hen.
  3. 3.
    juvenile
    A juvenile grows its first body feathers, learns to fly short bursts, and stays in the brood until fledged.
  4. 4.
    adult
    Fully grown with adult plumage.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Galliformes
Family
Phasianidae
Genus
Tetrao
Species
Tetrao urogallus