Red photos on Flickr

The red grouse, Lagopus lagopus scotica, is a medium-sized bird of the grouse family which is found in heather moorland in Great Britain and Ireland. It is usually classified as a subspecies of the willow ptarmigan but is sometimes considered to be a separate species, Lagopus scotica. It is also known as the moorcock, moorfowl or moorbird. Lagopus is derived from Ancient Greek lagos (λαγος), meaning "hare", + pous (πους), "foot", in reference to the feathered feet and toes typical of this cold-adapted genus, and scoticus is "of Scotland".

The red grouse is widely known as the logo of The Famous Grouse whisky and an animated bird is a character in a series of its adverts. The red grouse is also the emblem of the journal British Birds.

The red grouse is differentiated from the willow ptarmigan and rock ptarmigan by its plumage being reddish brown, and not having a white winter plumage. The tail is black and the legs are white. There are white stripes on the underwing and red combs over the eye. Females are less reddish than the males and have less conspicuous combs. Young birds are duller and lack the red combs.

The red grouse is endemic to the British Isles; it has developed in isolation from other subspecies of the willow ptarmigan which are widespread in northern parts of Eurasia and North America.

It is found across most parts of Scotland, including Orkney, Shetland and most of the Outer Hebrides. They are only absent from urban areas, such as in the Central Belt.

In Wales there are strong populations in places but their range has retracted. They are now largely absent from the far south, their main strongholds being Snowdonia, the Brecon Beacons and the Cambrian Mountains. There are reports of Welsh birds crossing the Bristol Channel to Exmoor.

In England it is mainly found in the north – places such as the Lake District, Northumberland, County Durham, much of Yorkshire, the Pennines and the Peak District, as far south as the Staffordshire Moorlands. There is an isolated introduced population on Dartmoor, and overspill Welsh birds visit the Shropshire Hills such as Long Mynd, where they breed. The Exmoor population would now appear to be extinct, with the last birds sighted as recently as 2005. An introduced population in Suffolk died out by the early 20th century, though a population on Cannock Chase in Staffordshire lasted longer.

The British population is estimated at about 250,000 pairs with around 1–5,000 pairs in Ireland. Numbers have declined in recent years and birds are now absent in areas where they were once common. Reasons for the decline include loss of heather due to overgrazing, creation of new conifer plantations and a decline in the number of upland gamekeepers. Some predators such as the hen harrier feed on grouse and there is ongoing controversy as to what effect these have on grouse numbers.

Red grouse have been introduced to the Hautes Fagnes region of Belgium but the population there died out in the early 1970s.

The red grouse is considered a game bird and is shot in large numbers during the shooting season which traditionally starts on August 12, known as the Glorious Twelfth. There is a keen competition among some London restaurants to serve freshly killed grouse on August 12, with the birds being flown from the moors and cooked within hours.

Red Kite by Gary Wheeler

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South Wales..

by Afsun N

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پریشانی مهملات پریروز در سرم ... می‌خواهم زمین و زمان و در و دیوار را چنگ بزنم ... به حیاط می‌روم ... شاخه‌ی سکویا را بر می‌دارم ... شیب راه به سوی در پشتی ... آوار شکوفه‌های کهنه‌ی گیلاس را ... جارو می‌کنم ... دست تو روی پشتم ... خسته نباشی ... سر بلند می‌کنم ... همیشه پوست سوخته‌ی کف دستت کم می‌آورد ... تنگی پوست‌اش را می‌بوسم ... خنده‌ی قشنگ‌ات در فضا می‌پیچد ... بادی از شرق به غرب ... صدایی دور و شفاف ... شکوفه‌های خشک را پس می‌آورد ... خشش خشش ... زمزمه‌ای دلهره آور بیخ نافم ... نزدیک است ... نزدیک است ... به خط افق خیره می‌شوم ... تیک تاک ممتدی که مدتی بود مرتب در حضورت می‌شنیدم ... قطع می‌شود ... سنجابی در دور ... روی نرده‌ها می‌دود ...

Red Fox Yawning by Dan King

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It must have been a good dream, it looks as though this fox is smiling as it wakes up from a nap.

It is amazing that a fox can sleep comfortably in temperatures well below freezing.It's common to see a fox sound asleep on top of the snow, especially on sunny spring days.

Chances are, there is a den nearby and this fox's mate was attending the kits.

Cinoch by corinne glaziou

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Toulouse

Red tulips by Thijs Friederich

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It is the start of the tulip season here in Holland. Each season the fields are different in terms of location and type of flowers. So it takes some exploding to find the right spot. In this field the tulips are not yet fully in bloom, however I actually like that because it gives some extra dynamic to the shot.

Hope you have a great Easter holiday.

Many thanks for your comments and favs :-)

Red and green... by Pedro1742

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Red Lines . by Alex Nebot

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Red Deer calf by Alan McCluskie

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Red Deer calf "Cervus elaphus" Bushy Park, Autumn 2019

red temptations by simo m.

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Red-backed Salamander by Robert Miesner

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I went looking for salamanders on Wednesday and found a few Red-backed ones. They are the ones usually out first so it wasn't a surprise.

I hope everyone enjoys this image! :D

Red Squirrel by cirdantravels (Fons Buts)

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Red Squirrel

sciurus vulgaris

eekhoorn

écureuil roux ou 'écureuil d'Eurasie

( Eurasische ) Eichhörnchen

ardilla común o ardilla roja

scoiattolo comune

esquilo-vermelho ou esquilo-vermelho-eurasiático

Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.

My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission.

Red Fox by Kevin Walsh

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RED London I by Matthieu Manigold

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RED London I- Big ben & Phone

red corn poppy by R Pe

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.

Red berries by Ann Lindström

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red spring by Lean

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Red tailed Hawk by David Burt

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After diving into grass red tailed hawk was unsuccessful in catching his prey

Autumn Red by John

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A lovely red Dahlia, shot in the Dahlia Garden at Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park on Long Island in New York. We did not record the variety. The garden is maintained by the Long Island Dahlia Society (LIDS).

Visit this great New York State Park at nysparks.com/parks/95/details.aspx. And you can learn more about the work of the Long Island Dahlia Society at www.longislanddahlia.org.

Red Squirrel by Colin Rigney

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Red Squirrel looking surprised :)

red red by Pedro1742

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All'Ombra dell'ultimo sole ..... by elen@c

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View On Black

red gerbera daisy by Martin LaBar

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A red Gerbera daisy (scientific genus name Gerbera) from my wife's flower garden. That's really red. You can see some of the reproductive parts in the small disc flowers, around the center.

Thanks for looking! Isn't God a great artist?

Red & White by Helga's 3rd_Eye

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... and a withered beside!

Red Chevy - Early 1950's by Victor Hamberlin

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Fresh Red Pepper by Theo Crazzolara

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www.theocrazzolara.weebly.com

Red squirrel by hedera.baltica

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Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) standing upright on a grassy ground.