Caucasian Black Grouse
Encyclopedia
The Caucasian Grouse is a large bird
in the grouse
family. It is closely related to the Black Grouse
(T. tetrix). It occurs in extreme southeastern Europe
and adjacent regions. The scientific name of this bird commemorates the Polish naturalist Ludwik Mlokosiewicz
.
As with many gamebirds
, the cock (male) is larger than the hen (female), measuring 50–55 cm compared to her length of 37–42 cm. The cock is very distinctive, with all-black plumage, apart from red eyebrows, and a long, deeply forked tail. The female Caucasian Grouse is grey with dark barring, and has a cackling call.
The Caucasian Grouse is a sedentary species
, breeding in the Caucasus
and Pontic Mountains
of northeast Turkey
on open slopes with low Rhododendron
or other scrubs. These bird have a group display or lek in May and June. Unlike the male Eurasian Black Grouse, the Caucasian Grouse display is almost mute but for a thin whistling of the cock fluttering his wings as he leaps and turns in the air, producing a flash of white as the underwing feathers are briefly revealed. The hen lays up to 10 eggs in a ground scrape and takes all responsibility for nesting and caring for the chicks, as is typical with gamebirds.
This is perhaps the least-known of all grouse in the world, and it was formerly classified as Data Deficient
by the IUCN. Recent research shows that it is declining to some extent, and it is consequently listed as a Near Threatened
species in 2008 with a population of about 70,000 worldwide in 2006. Conservation efforts have included encouraging ecotourism
as a way to promote awareness of the bird and its habitat.
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
in the grouse
Grouse
Grouse are a group of birds from the order Galliformes. They are sometimes considered a family Tetraonidae, though the American Ornithologists' Union and many others include grouse as a subfamily Tetraoninae in the family Phasianidae...
family. It is closely related to the Black Grouse
Black Grouse
The Black Grouse or Blackgame is a large bird in the grouse family. It is a sedentary species, breeding across northern Eurasia in moorland and bog areas near to woodland, mostly boreal...
(T. tetrix). It occurs in extreme southeastern Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and adjacent regions. The scientific name of this bird commemorates the Polish naturalist Ludwik Mlokosiewicz
Ludwik Mlokosiewicz
Ludwik Franciszek Mlokosiewicz was a Polish explorer, zoologist and botanist, who studied extensively in the Caucasus Mountains.-Life:...
.
As with many gamebirds
Galliformes
Galliformes are an order of heavy-bodied ground-feeding domestic or game bird, containing turkey, grouse, chicken, New and Old World Quail, ptarmigan, partridge, pheasant, and the Cracidae. Common names are gamefowl or gamebirds, landfowl, gallinaceous birds or galliforms...
, the cock (male) is larger than the hen (female), measuring 50–55 cm compared to her length of 37–42 cm. The cock is very distinctive, with all-black plumage, apart from red eyebrows, and a long, deeply forked tail. The female Caucasian Grouse is grey with dark barring, and has a cackling call.
The Caucasian Grouse is a sedentary species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
, breeding in the Caucasus
Caucasus Mountains
The Caucasus Mountains is a mountain system in Eurasia between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea in the Caucasus region .The Caucasus Mountains includes:* the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range and* the Lesser Caucasus Mountains....
and Pontic Mountains
Pontic Mountains
The Pontic Mountains form a mountain range in Northern Turkey, also known as the Parhar mountains in the local Turkish and Pontic Greek languages. The term "Parhar" originates from the Hittite word meaning "high" or "summit"....
of northeast Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
on open slopes with low Rhododendron
Rhododendron
Rhododendron is a genus of over 1 000 species of woody plants in the heath family, most with showy flowers...
or other scrubs. These bird have a group display or lek in May and June. Unlike the male Eurasian Black Grouse, the Caucasian Grouse display is almost mute but for a thin whistling of the cock fluttering his wings as he leaps and turns in the air, producing a flash of white as the underwing feathers are briefly revealed. The hen lays up to 10 eggs in a ground scrape and takes all responsibility for nesting and caring for the chicks, as is typical with gamebirds.
This is perhaps the least-known of all grouse in the world, and it was formerly classified as Data Deficient
Data Deficient
Data Deficient is a category applied by the IUCN, other agencies, and individuals to a species when the available information is not sufficient for a proper assessment of conservation status to be made...
by the IUCN. Recent research shows that it is declining to some extent, and it is consequently listed as a Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Near Threatened is a conservation status assigned to species or lower taxa that may be considered threatened with extinction in the near future, although it does not currently qualify for the threatened status...
species in 2008 with a population of about 70,000 worldwide in 2006. Conservation efforts have included encouraging ecotourism
Ecotourism
Ecotourism is a form of tourism visiting fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas, intended as a low impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial tourism...
as a way to promote awareness of the bird and its habitat.