# Western Capercaillie (*Tetrao urogallus*) The Western Capercaillie is a large, beautiful bird found in forests. Males are known for their impressive courtship displays, puffing up their feathers to attract females. They are shy and prefer to stay hidden among the trees. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Western Capercaillie](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Auerhuhn_Schweden_P1130026.jpg&width=800) Photo: S. John, Elsterwerda, CC BY-SA 3.0 de · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Auerhuhn_Schweden_P1130026.jpg) ## Appearance The Western Capercaillie is a very large ground-dwelling bird. Males are striking with glossy dark plumage, a metallic green breast, and bright red eyebrows, contrasting with the smaller, camouflaged mottled brown females. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Galliformes - **Family:** Phasianidae - **Genus:** Tetrao ## Interesting facts - Capercaillie chicks can fly short distances just two weeks after hatching! - It's Europe's largest grouse, often called the "King of the Forest." - Males perform a dramatic "lekking" dance to impress females. - Their strong claws help them walk easily over deep snow. ## Special abilities - **Booming Courtship Call:** Western Capercaillie males can make a series of gurgling and booming sounds that helps them attract mates. - **Winter Survival Gut:** Western Capercaillie has specialized gut bacteria that allows them to digest tough conifer needles in winter. - **Forest Camouflage:** Western Capercaillie has mottled brown and black plumage that helps them blend perfectly into dense forest undergrowth. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 54-90 cm - **Wingspan:** 70-125 cm - **Weight:** 1.5-6.7 kg - **Lifespan:** 6-8 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 5-12 - **Incubation:** 26-29 days ## Diet & Feeding They mainly eat conifer needles, buds, and shoots, but also enjoy berries and insects in summer. - **Age differences:** Chicks eat mostly insects, gradually shifting to a plant-based diet as they grow. - **Primary Foods:** Pine needles, Spruce needles, Juniper berries, Bilberries, Heather shoots, Insects - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Golden Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/golden-eagle) (*Aquila chrysaetos*) — Adult capercaillie can be hunted by this powerful raptor. - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Predates on capercaillie eggs, chicks, and sometimes adults. - **Depends on:** [Scots Pine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/scots-pine) (*Pinus sylvestris*) — Provides essential food (needles) and shelter, especially in winter. - **Depends on:** Bilberry (*Vaccinium myrtillus*) — Their berries and leaves are a vital food source in summer. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Crested](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/crested): Crested describes animals possessing a prominent tuft of feathers, hair, or skin on their head. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Threatened](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/threatened): Threatened status denotes a species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future without effective conservation interventions. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a bird in the wild, it's best to watch quietly from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Western Capercaillie? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Western Capercaillie? 54-90 cm ### What is Western Capercaillie's wingspan? 70-125 cm ### How much does Western Capercaillie weigh? 1.5-6.7 kg ### How long does Western Capercaillie live? 6-8 years ### How fast can Western Capercaillie move? 60 km/h ### What does Western Capercaillie eat? They mainly eat conifer needles, buds, and shoots, but also enjoy berries and insects in summer. ### Where is Western Capercaillie usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Tierpark Hexentanzplatz Thale](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-hexentanzplatz-thale) — Sachsen-Anhalt, DE · Zoo - [Bavarian Forest National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bavarian-forest-national-park) — Bayern, DE · Park - [Wildpark Christianental Wernigerode](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wildpark-christianental-wernigerode) — Sachsen-Anhalt, DE · Zoo - [Tierpark Suhl](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-suhl) — Thüringen, DE · Zoo - [Puez–Odle Nature Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/puezodle-nature-park) — IT · Park - [Julian Prealps Nature Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/julian-prealps-nature-park) — IT · Park [View all places to see Western Capercaillie](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/western-capercaillie) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Western Capercaillie: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-capercaillie)