Tom Marshall
About
The red grouse is a plump gamebird about the same size and shape as a artridge. It feeds on heather and can be found on upland heathlands and moorland; it's often spotted as it's flushed from the heather, suddenly flying upwards with rapid, whirring wing-beats. There are actually two subspecies of red grouse: Lagopus lagopus scotia (the red grouse of the British Isles) and Lagopus lagopus lagopus (the willow grouse of Scandinavia and Alaska).
How to identify
Unmistakeable: red grouse are entirely rich gingery-brown in colour with a black tail and red eyebrows.
Where to find it
Lives on heather moorlands in North and South West England, Wales and Scotland.
Habitats
When to find it
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
- Novermber
- December
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
How can people help
Red grouse populations are in decline due to the loss of their natural, heathland habitats: over the last 50 years up to 40% of heather moorland has been lost to commercial forestry and overgrazing. The Wildlife Trusts are working to restore and protect our heaths by promoting good management, clearing encroaching scrub and implementing beneficial grazing regimes. This work is vital if our heathland habitats are to survive; you can help by supporting your local Wildlife Trust and becoming a member or volunteer.