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Red Grouse, Male, Lagopus lagopus

‘Sticking your neck out'. Flushed from the heather…a beautiful Red Grouse, swiftly flying upwards with rapid whirring wing beats and calling as it goes, North Yorkshire.

 

Many thanks for visiting my Flickr pages...Your visits, interest, comments and kindness to 'fave' my photos is very much appreciated, Steve.

 

The Red Grouse is an unmistakeable bird - plump and round, with a gingery-red body as its name suggests. Found on upland heathlands, it is under threat from the nationwide, dramatic loss of these habitats.

 

Red Grouse information

 

Category: Grouse, partridges, pheasant and quail

 

Statistics

Length: 40-43cm

Wingspan:60cm

Weight: 600g

Average lifespan: est. 2-7 years

 

Conservation status

Classified in the UK as Green under the Birds of Conservation Concern 5: the Red List for Birds (2021). Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework. Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.

 

When to see

January to December

 

About

The Red Grouse is a plump bird about the same size and shape as a grey partridge. It feeds on heather and can be found on upland heathlands and moorland - it's often spotted as it's flushed from the heather, suddenly flying upwards with rapid, whirring wingbeats. There are actually two subspecies of red grouse: Lagopus lagopus scotia (the red grouse of the British Isles) and Lagopus lagopus lagopus (the willow grouse of Scandinavia and Alaska).

 

How to identify

The red grouse is a plump bird with a rich, gingery-brown body, short, black tail and red 'eyebrows'.

 

Distribution

Found in North and South West England, Wales and Scotland.

 

Habitats

Heathland and moorland

 

Did you know?

The red grouse is the 'Famous Grouse' that appears on whisky bottles. The grouse brand was born in 1896 in Scotland and deliberately named after an iconic Scottish bird. But it was the popularity of it that inspired the makers to add 'Famous' to the title. WT notes.

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Uploaded on September 11, 2022
Taken on July 4, 2022