File:Tetrao urogallus, Glenfeshie, Scotland 1.jpg

Capercaillie

1 day ago

Not yet spotted on Fladder

The largest grouse species in the world, the Capercaillie is a magnificent forest bird known for its impressive size and the male's elaborate, gurgling courtship display. Males are predominantly dark, while females are barred brown.

Where to spot

Mature, old-growth coniferous or mixed forests with dense undergrowth, primarily across Eurasia, from Scandinavia and Central Europe to Russia.

How to spot

Locate known lek sites, often with local guidance, and arrive quietly before dawn. Remain hidden and still to observe the males' courtship rituals. Outside the breeding season, they are very shy and difficult to approach, requiring extreme stealth and patience in their dense forest habitat.

When to spot

Best observed during the breeding season (early spring, March-May) at dawn when males are performing their lekking displays.

Where to spot

Mature, old-growth coniferous or mixed forests with dense undergrowth, primarily across Eurasia, from Scandinavia and Central Europe to Russia.

How to spot

When to spot

Best observed during the breeding season (early spring, March-May) at dawn when males are performing their lekking displays.

Credits: Wikimedia Commons

Male Capercaillies perform an elaborate and noisy courtship display called 'lekking,' where they fan their tails, droop their wings, and produce a series of clicks, gurgles, and pops to attract females.

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