Learn about Scotland’s spectacular Capercaillie and why you shouldn’t try to spot one in the Cairngorms.

The Capercaillie is the world’s largest grouse and a key species for many people interested in Scottish wildlife watching. Unfortunately, however, it is also one of the rarest birds in Britain. Within its home range in Scotland dog-walkers, hikers, cyclists and birdwatchers can do a lot to protect this wonderful species. Read on to learn more about capercailie, or see Wildlife in Scotland: A Beginner’s Guide for an overview.

Go to:

• Name
• Identification
• Capercaillie habitat
  • Finding capercaillie
• Adaptations of Capercaillie
• Feeding
• Reproduction
• Distribution in Scotland
• Conservation of Capercaillie
• Capercaillie FAQs

Name

Their common name is Scottish Gaelic ‘Capul choillie‘ meaning ‘Horse of the woods’. This name likely came from the hoof-like clip-clopping sounds made during the males mating display. Latin name: Tetrao urogallus. Tetrao is Old Latin referring to a ‘black gamebird’. Urogallus is New Latin referring to a ‘cockerel’s tail’.

Species factfile ❀

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Common name: Capercaillie Scientific name: Tetrao urogallus Order: Galliformes, Family: Phasianidae Measurements: Male 74-90cm long (inc tail), female 54-63cm, wingspan 82-125cm. Male 3.5-5kg, female 1.5-2.5kg Habitat: Conifer forests Range: Northern Europe, Scandinavia and Russia Conservation status: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981: Schedule 1 species, UK Birds of Conservation Concern: Red listed, UK Biodiversity Action Plan Species, IUCN Red List: Least Concern  

Identification

‘Capers’ are very large forest grouse and one of the heaviest species of Scottish birds. Despite their size, capercaillie are actually very difficult to spot, even in ideal habitat in the Cairngorms. Females are very well camouflaged, with intricate brown patterning across the body, wings and tail. They also have a red/brown breast which distinguishes them from the other grouse species. White markings (‘braces’) appear up their back, which distinguishes them from the similar female Black grouse.

Males are mostly black on the body and tail, with brown upperwings. Males can be quite aggressive when defending themselves or displaying. Their large, ivory-coloured bill is sometimes obvious. White markings also occur on parts of the tail, wing and, in younger birds, the breast. Most of the time they are silent, apart from low gutteral croaks for contact and warning calls. Their breeding display involves a spectacular song (see ‘Reproduction’ below).

Adaptations of Capercaillie

Being a grouse, they have short, broad, curved wings, enabling rapid, powerful takeoff. Their large body houses a large digestive system, which thus enables them to process large amounts of tough plant material. Dust bathing is an important behaviour in capercaillie. These baths appear as dry, sandy, sheltered bowls, littered with feathers and droppings. This behaviour plays a crucial role in removing ticks during the summer.

Feeding

Their large, sharp beak is used for efficient snipping of tough pine needles, blaeberry leaves and other vegetation. Pine needles actually make up a significant proportion of some bird’s winter diet. Due to this diet, capercaillie produce large, fibrous droppings. Often, these are the only indication of their presence when trying to spot this species in the Cairngorms.

Their feeding habits also explain why ‘capers’ are sometimes seen eating grit (‘gritting’) on forest roads. In a similar way to chickens, grit collected in their gizzard helps grind up tough plant material. During the summer months Blaeberry leaves and berries (Vaccinium myrtillus) are their preferred food.

Reproduction

This is one of the few Scottish birds that ‘lek’. During April and May, the males congregate at dawn, deep in the forest. Here, they perform a spectacular display with fanned-out tail, dragging wings and a variety of hissing and clip-clopping noises. As a result, females gradually home-in on this ‘lek site’, where mating occurs on only about five mornings each year. Despite their size, any disturbance during this critical period can prevent the birds mating, which severely reduces the number of chicks born that year.

Occassionally, ‘rogue males’ will become fearless and display even after dawn. These individuals have been known to attack people, cars and red deer! Females, too, sometimes appear in unusual places during spring. Females usually nest at the foot of a tree, in dense heather. Clutch size is usually 8 eggs. Incubation is 26-28 days.

Conservation of Capercaillie

The current Scottish capercaillie population was reintroduced from Sweden following the extinction of the Scottish subspecies around the 18th Century. Although the IUCN status of this species in Europe is ‘Least Concern’, in Britain, they are a Red List species. Major pressures include:

• Disturbance during the display period
• Predation of eggs and chicks
• High chick mortality
• Fence collisions
• Habitat loss

Local conservation measures include, for example, asking birders to avoid certain areas, encouraging dog walkers to keep their pets on lead/at heel and reducing bird strikes on deer fences. The local mountain biking community have even removed selected trails and promoted responsible access amongst riders.

The Cairngorms Capercaillie Project works with local communities to preserve capercaillie habitat and raise awareness for their conservation. Examples of their work include marking essential deer fences, predator control and monitoring lek sites for disturbance. Arc Guiding supports their work by providing #LekItBe caper-friendly tours.

So, capercaillie are remarkable birds and a famous and cherished species within their last stronghold in Britain – the Cairngorms National Park. This species faces a wide range of pressures in Britain, not least of which are climate change and habitat loss. Thus, a huge amount of effort and funding has been directed at halting their decline and increasing their numbers. However, it remains to be seen whether their population will recover to a point where they can survive in Britain long term.

Spring birding in the Cairngorms and more

see our scotland wildlife tours

Capercaillie FAQs