lat.: Tetrao urogallus

The male, which is the largest of European grouse, grows to a length of about 91 cm (36 in) and may weigh 5 kg (12 lb) or more. It has black plumage with metallic green on the breast and a circle of red skin around each eye. The female, which reaches a length of only 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in), is mottled brown above and has a reddish-brown breast.

The male is polygamous and may have as many as 12 mates. The female makes a nest on the ground and in it lays from 6 to 12 pale buff eggs, sprinkled with dots of reddish brown.

Diet
The birds live in conifer forests where they subsist on berries, seeds, worms, and insects in the summer and on pine shoots in the winter.

Habitat
Large and and undisturbted forests on acid soils in middle and high mountain regions. Forests should be divers and uneven structed. Conifer and a mixture of broadleaf trees are required.

Area
Europe, especially Eastern Europe and Scandinavia. Russia and Central Asia. In central Europe endangered species.

Norway, Finland, Sweden, Russia, Rumania, Belarus