Western Capercaillie

Tetrao urogallus

The largest grouse in Europe, this forest-dwelling bird puts on an impressive mating display that's a sight to behold in the wild.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Western Capercaillie is a large, ground-dwelling grouse with striking sexual dimorphism. Males are predominantly black with a glossy blue-green sheen on the chest, a distinctive red eyebrow, and a large, fan-shaped tail. On the chin and throat area, spiky black feathers give the appearance of a beard.

Females are significantly smaller and sport mottled brown plumage with barring, providing excellent camouflage. Both sexes have feathered legs and feet, an adaptation to their cold habitat, and short, thick, hooked bills.

Size

Length

60cm to 87cm

Wingspan

87cm to 125cm

Weight

1.5kg to 6.5kg

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Black Brown

Secondary Colour

Green White

Beak Colour

Grey

Leg Colour

Grey

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown

Secondary Colour (Female)

Buff Black

Beak Colour (Female)

Grey

Leg Colour (Female)

Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Western Capercaillie can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Western Capercaillie is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Western Capercaillie is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Western Capercaillie is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Western Capercaillie is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Western Capercaillie is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Western Capercaillie is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Western Capercaillie is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Western Capercaillie is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Western Capercaillie is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Western Capercaillie is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Western Capercaillie is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Western Capercaillies inhabit boreal and montane coniferous forests across Eurasia, from Scotland and Scandinavia to eastern Siberia. They prefer mature forests with a diverse understory and open areas for lekking.

In the UK, they are now restricted to the Scottish Highlands, where reintroduction efforts have had limited success. Their range has contracted significantly due to habitat loss and fragmentation.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subarctic

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Western Capercaillie. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons