Caucasian Black Grouse

The Caucasian Black Grouse (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi ) is a large bird in the grouse family. It is closely related to the Eurasian Black Grouse.

Caucasian Black Grouse is a sedentary species, breeding in the Caucasus Mountains and northeast Turkey on open slopes with low Rhododendron or other scrubs. These bird have a group display or lek in early spring.

As with many gamebirds, the male is larger than the female at 50–55cm, compared to her 37–42 cm length. The cock is very distinctive, with all-black plumage, apart from red eyebrows, and a long, deeply forked tail. Unlike the male Black Grouse, he is almost mute, but a thin whistling is produced by his wings in display.

The female Caucasian Black Grouse is grey with dark barring, and has a cackling call. She lays up to 10 eggs in a ground scrape and takes all responsibility for nesting and caring for the chicks, as is typical with gamebirds.

Reference

• Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse by Madge and McGowan, ISBN 0–7136–3966–0