Black Grouse

Black grouse (Lyrorus tetrix) are larger than the red grouse. The male bird is known as the black cock, the female, the grey hen. In spring, males 'perform' a collective courtship display called 'lekking'. Females visit the lek to mate and then carry out nesting on their own.

Black grouse were once common throughout most of this country. However, changes in land use have resulted in a widespread loss of habitat.

Today in England and Wales there are estimated to be under 1000 breeding males, found in small areas, mostly in the North Pennines. The Black Grouse lives in areas of moorland fringe - needing a number of different habitats including, heather moorland, blanket bog and pine trees or birch within its home range. Heather, bilberry, grasses, rushes and white grass are needed for food and also as cover from predators. The chicks feed on insects found on these plants, in particular caterpillars. When snow covers the ground, it searches for birch catkins and seedheads among the trees.

In a number of places, moor owners are actively working to restore the black grouse population by planting native trees on the moor edge and in the gills. This has resulted in 90% of existing black grouse leks occurring adjacent to moorland actively managed for red grouse.