The grouse is a heavily-built bird that is found in the cold, forested areas of the Northern Hemisphere. The grouse is most closely related to other game birds including chickens, peasants and turkeys and, although not commonly farmed commercially, the grouse is hunted by humans in its natural habitat.
The grouse inhabits both hot and cold environments, and can be found in a variety of habitats like forests, moorland, shrub-land and close to rural farms.
In order to survive the bitter Northern winters, the grouse has
feathered legs and toes which not only help to keep the grouse warm, but
they also give the grouse more grip and stability when it is walking
around in the snow.
Despite inhabiting areas that often fall within the Arctic Circle, thousands of grouse are hunted as game each year by humans.
The grouse population numbers are not drastically effected however as
they often lay a large number of eggs so the grouse population is able
to increase at a fast rate.
The grouse is an omnivorous animal meaning that it eats both plants and other animals. Despite this though, plant matter makes up the majority of the grouse's diet as the grouse eats grasses, fruits, nuts, berries, shoots, seeds and flowers, along with insects and even rodents.
Due to its stocky build and the fact that the grouse is one of the few animals able to exist within the Arctic Circle, that grouse is preyed upon by a number of native predators. Wildcats including lynx, foxes, wolves and large birds of prey all prey upon the grouse, alongside human hunters.
Female grouse nests in a dip in the ground, following an elaborate
mating display by the male grouse. The female grouse can lay up to 12
eggs at a time which hatch after a month of incubation.
Grouse Facts
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Galliformes |
| Family: | Phasianidae |
| Genus: | Tetraoninae |
| Scientific Name: | Tetraoninae |
| Type: | Bird |
| Diet: | Omnivore |
| Size (L): | 31cm - 95cm (12in - 37in) |
| Wing Span: | 45cm - 101cm (22in - 40in) |
| Weight: | 0.3kg - 6.5kg (0.6lbs - 14lbs) |
| Top Speed: | 10km/h (6mph) |
| Life Span: | 1 - 10 years |
| Lifestyle: | Flock |
| Conservation Status: | Least Concern |
| Colour: | Black, White, Brown, Yellow, Green, Blue, Red |
| Skin Type: | Feathers |
| Favourite Food: | Insects |
| Habitat: | Forest, shrubland and grassy plains |
| Average Clutch Size: | 8 |
| Main Prey: | Insects, Nuts, Seeds, Berries |
| Predators: | Fox, Lynx, Birds Of Prey |
| Distinctive Features: | Long tail feathers and feathered legs and toes |
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