Red Grouse
Lagopus lagopus
Where is it found?
Moorland
Diet and foraging method
Key adpatations
Red-brown mottle plumage provides superb camouflage amongst the heather they feed on.
Social organisation and mating system
Monogamous breeding pairs
Did you know that...?
In order to maintain their territory, males dance off with each other and the one with the most elaborate display not only gets to keep his territory, but also wins the hearts of female Red Grouse.
Taxonomy
Picture credits:
Maps from: http://species.mol.org/species/
"Red Grouse (2954268645)" by Alastair Rae from London, United Kingdom - Red Grouse. Licenced under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Red_Grouse_(2954268645).jpg#/media/File:Red_Grouse_(2954268645).jpg
"Lagopus lagopus nest" by Mlkniemi - Own work. Licensed under CC0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lagopus_lagopus_nest.jpg#/media/File:Lagopus_lagopus_nest.jpg
"Lagopède des saules MHNT" by Didier Descouens - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lagop%C3%A8de_des_saules_MHNT.jpg#/media/File:Lagop%C3%A8de_des_saules_MHNT.jpg
"Red Grouse (Lagopus lagopus) - geograph.org.uk - 419220" by Hugh Venables. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Red_Grouse_(Lagopus_lagopus)_-_geograph.org.uk_-_419220.jpg#/media/File:Red_Grouse_(Lagopus_lagopus)_-_geograph.org.uk_-_419220.jpg
"Red Grouse" by Elizabeth Gould. - John Gould: The Birds of Europe, vol. 4 pl. 10 (as Lagopus Scoticus,Lath.), Bibliothèque nationale de France. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Red_Grouse.jpg#/media/File:Red_Grouse.jpg
"Red Grouse (2954268645)" by Alastair Rae from London, United Kingdom - Red Grouse. Licenced under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Red_Grouse_(2954268645).jpg#/media/File:Red_Grouse_(2954268645).jpg
"Lagopus lagopus nest" by Mlkniemi - Own work. Licensed under CC0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lagopus_lagopus_nest.jpg#/media/File:Lagopus_lagopus_nest.jpg
"Lagopède des saules MHNT" by Didier Descouens - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lagop%C3%A8de_des_saules_MHNT.jpg#/media/File:Lagop%C3%A8de_des_saules_MHNT.jpg
"Red Grouse (Lagopus lagopus) - geograph.org.uk - 419220" by Hugh Venables. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Red_Grouse_(Lagopus_lagopus)_-_geograph.org.uk_-_419220.jpg#/media/File:Red_Grouse_(Lagopus_lagopus)_-_geograph.org.uk_-_419220.jpg
"Red Grouse" by Elizabeth Gould. - John Gould: The Birds of Europe, vol. 4 pl. 10 (as Lagopus Scoticus,Lath.), Bibliothèque nationale de France. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Red_Grouse.jpg#/media/File:Red_Grouse.jpg