Hazel grouse
| Hazel grouse | |
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| File:Tetrastes bonasia.jpg | |
| Scientific classification | |
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T. bonasia
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| Binomial name | |
| Tetrastes bonasia |
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| File:Tetrastes bonasia distribution revise map.png | |
| Range of T. bonasia | |
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The hazel grouse, (Tetrastes bonasia) sometimes called the hazel hen, is one of the smaller members of the grouse family of birds. It is a sedentary species, breeding across northern Eurasia as far east as Hokkaido, and as far west as central and eastern Europe, in dense, damp, mixed coniferous woodland, preferably with some spruce.
Description
This is a relatively small grouse at 35–39 cm (14–15 in) length. The plumage of this plump bird is finely patterned, but it essentially has grey upperparts, brown wings and chestnut flecked white underparts.
The male has a short erectile crest and a white-bordered black throat. The female has a shorter crest and lacks the black color on the throat. In flight, this species shows a black-tipped grey tail.
The male has a high-pitched ti-ti-ti-ti-ti call, and the female a liquid tettettettettet. These calls, along with the burr of the flying birds' wings, are often the only indication of this grouse's presence, since its shyness and dense woodland habitat make it difficult to see.
Feeding
This bird feeds on the ground, taking mainly plant food, supplemented by insects when breeding.
Breeding
The nest is on the ground, and 3–6 eggs is the normal clutch size. The female incubates the eggs and cares for the chicks alone, as is typical with gamebirds.
References
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tetrastes bonasia. |
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Wikispecies has information related to: Tetrastes bonasia |
- BirdLife species factsheet for Bonasa bonasia
- Tetrastes bonasia on Avibase
- Hazel grouse videos, photos, and sounds at the Internet Bird Collection
- Hazel grouse photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
- Interactive range map of Bonasa bonasia at IUCN Red List maps
- Audio recordings of Hazel grouse on Xeno-canto.
