The red grouse is a medium-sized game bird with a plump body, short black tail and slightly hooked beak. Red grouse have reddish-brown plumage and white legs. The most distinguishing feature is a bright red comb (less intense on the females) over the eye which is often visible above a carpet of heather, where they are commonly found.

Behaviour

Red grouse are solitary birds, occasionally gathering in flocks during winter months. They feed mainly on heather (Calluna vulgaris), on the young heather shoots and leaves which stay green all year round. They also feed on the seed heads of other plants, particularly cotton grasses. The young feed on insects.

Red grouse begin to form pairs in the autumn, with males becoming more territorial throughout winter. Males will attract females by erecting their neck feathers and using their wings to make a drumming sound. Male red grouse can be heard calling at the start of the breeding season in late April, with their distinctive “go, go, go-away” call.

Mating and breeding takes place in the spring, with egg-laying occurring in April and May. A clutch of 7-9 eggs is laid on the ground in thick vegetation. The female incubates them for 19-25 days. Both sexes guard and protect the chicks, but if the female is lost the male will raise the brood alone. The chicks are capable of flight after about 12-13 days and are fully grown in 30-35 days.

Size

• Length: 37-42cm
• Wingspan 55-66cm
• Average weight: 600-700g
• Average lifespan: 2-7 years

Status

Classified in the UK as Amber under the Birds of Conservation Concern 4: the Red List for Birds (2015); protected by The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The species is classified as vulnerable and was moved from the Green list to Amber in 2002 following a decline in the breeding population and a contraction in the breeding range. Causes for the decline appear to be multi-factorial, including a loss of heather due to over-grazing by sheep and conversion to forestry, greater abundance of predators and higher rates of infection and death caused by a parasitic threadworm.

Distribution

The red grouse is a common and widespread resident bird in Scotland. Its favoured habitat is typically open upland heather moors at an altitude of between 350-700m. 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 across the Central Belt.

When to see

January to December; red grouse are one of the few birds that can be found throughout the year. It is often spotted as it’s flushed noisily from the heather, suddenly flying upwards with rapid, whirring wing-beats.

Facts

• Lagopus lagopus scotica endemic to Scotland is a sub-species of the willow grouse. The latter, found across much of Europe turns white in the winter to blend in against a snowy background. In Scotland, the snow doesn’t lie on the ground for so long, so red grouse stay the same colour all year round.
• Looking out for grouse droppings is one of the best ways to tell if red grouse are in the area. The droppings are very distinctive – often found in piles with each dropping being several centimetres long and curved in shape. They have a fibrous texture and are reddish brown in colour.
• For many centuries, red grouse have been shot across large areas of Scotland. Extensive areas across eastern Scotland are still managed for grouse shooting. Many moors are managed to increase the density of grouse.