Capercaillie

The capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) is the largest grouse species found in Europe, being native to Scotland, the Pyrenees and northern and central Europe. Within Scotland it is confined to pine forests in the Grampian Highlands and surrounding areas. A good place to see capercaillies is the Abernethy Forest Nature Reserve at Loch Garten, near Aviemore. Numbers have been in decline for a number of years, but the trend was reversed somewhat in 2009 with reports of a good breeding season.

The capercaillie became extinct in Scotland in the 18th century but was reintroduced in the 19th century. However, as a game bird it has never been particularly popular because its flesh is not all that appetising. Whereas the breeding of other grouse species has been a priority so that the shooting season can succeed, this has not been the case for the capercaillie. It is therefore a “red status” species that would almost certainly have become extinct yet again had it not had this status and protection in designated nature reserves.


Appearance

Male and female capercaillies are very different in appearance. The cocks measure up to 94 centimetres (37 inches) in length with the hens being much smaller at 67 centimetres (26 inches). Both have heavy bills, quite long necks, broad wings and a rounded tail. The male’s tail is fanned out in spectacular style during the mating ceremony, and he also thrusts out the “beard” on his throat. The cock capercaillie is dark in colour with a glossy bottle-green chest, brown wings, a yellow bill, red eyepatch, and white shoulder patches and underwings. The hen birds have brown barred upperparts and wings and much lighter underparts. Hens have a prominent reddish tinge to the throat, chest and tail.


Courting and breeding

Although capercaillies are shy birds, and not easily spotted as they hide in dense woodland, their spring courting displays are very conspicuous. In an open space known as a “lek”, the males literally “strut their stuff”, fanning their tails, thrusting their chests out and making extraordinary noises that sound as though the bird is retching or even pulling a cork from a bottle! Fights between males are common. The females watch the display from the surrounding branches and are then led away by the victorious males.

The nest is a hollow in the ground, lined with leaves and grass, often near the base of a tree with good ground cover. All the work of making the nest, incubating the eggs and looking after the young is done by the female. The clutch, which is laid at any time from April to June, consists of at least five eggs and may be as many as eleven. However, the average survival rate for the chicks is only around 1.5 in a good season, and there may be no survivors if weather conditions are poor or food supplies are scarce. Only one brood is hatched per season.

Incubation takes up to 29 days and the chicks are able to feed themselves as soon as they hatch. The hen offers protection for them under her wings in the early days, although they are often able to fly from about ten days after hatching.

Food for capercaillies consists of insects, berries and the buds and shoots of conifers. In winter, pine needles form much of the diet.

© John Welford