Black Grouse

The Black Grouse has distinct red bare skin over its eyes that plumps up during the courting ritual known as “lek”. During the lek, males, and at times up to hundreds of males, collect in “lekking” grounds every dawn to display their strength and plumage to increase their chances of mating with a hen. The Black Grouse is a sedentary bird, which means it does not migrate. The Black Grouse has a large range across most of northern Europe and Russia. They are capable of hybridization with other species such as Ringneck Pheasant, Western Capercaillie and Willow Ptarmigan.