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