The Red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scotica) is usually classified as a subspecies of the Willow ptarmigan but is sometimes considered to be a separate species, Lagopus scoticus. The Red grouse is endemic to the British Isles; it has developed in isolation from other subspecies of the willow ptarmigan which are widespread in northern parts of Eurasia and North America. This bird is the emblem of the journal British Birds.
The Red grouse differs from the Willow ptarmigan and Rock ptarmigan by its plumage being reddish brown, and not having a white winter plumage. The tail is black and the legs are white. There are white stripes on the underwing and red combs over the eye. Females are less reddish than the males and have less conspicuous combs. Young birds are duller and lack the red combs. Birds in Ireland are sometimes thought to belong to a separate subspecies L. l. hibernica. They are slightly paler than those in Britain and the females have yellower plumage with more finely barred underparts. This may be an adaptation to camouflage them into their surrounding.
Red grouse are found across most parts of Scotland, including Orkney, Shetland, and most of the Outer Hebrides. They are only absent from urban areas, such as in the Central Belt. In Wales, they are now largely absent from the far south, their main strongholds being Snowdonia, the Brecon Beacons, and the Cambrian Mountains. In England, these birds mainly occur in the north - places such as the Lake District, Northumberland, County Durham, much of Yorkshire, the Pennines, and the Peak District, as far south as the Staffordshire Moorlands. There is an isolated introduced population on Dartmoor, and overspill Welsh birds visit the Shropshire Hills such as Long Mynd, where they breed. In Ireland Red grouse are found locally in most parts of the country: they are commonest in County Mayo, and on the County Antrim plateau, with other healthy populations in the Slieve Bloom Mountains and the Knockmealdown Mountains; there is still a small population in south County Dublin. The small population in the Isle of Man is mostly concentrated in the southern hills. Red grouse prefer to live in upland heather moors away from trees. They can also be found in some low-lying bogs and may visit farmland during hard weather.
Little is known about the habits of Red grouse. They are identified by their 'chut!chut!chut!chut!chut!chuttt....' call, or the 'Goback, goback, goback' vocalisation. Their wings make a whirring sound when the birds are disturbed from a resting place. In general, Willow ptarmigan are gregarious birds and after the breeding season, families begin to form flocks. The females and young migrate to lower altitudes and may overwinter 100 miles (160 km) from their breeding grounds in wooded valleys and hilly country. The males also congregate in small groups but do not usually travel as far as the females. Willow ptarmigan forage early in the morning and in the afternoon, often in flocks; they walk quietly and pick at vegetation, plucking berries, or gleaning insects. In the summer, they may feed throughout the day.
Red grouse are herbivorous (folivorous, granivorous) birds and feed mainly on the shoots, seeds, and flowers of heather. They will also eat berries, cereal crops, and sometimes insects.
The information about the mating system of Red grouse is scarce but in general, Willow ptarmigan are serially monogamous and form pair bonds that last only during one breeding season. However, some males may be polygynous and mate with several females. Red grouse begin to form pairs during the autumn and males become increasingly territorial as winter progresses. The nest is a shallow scrape up to 20 cm (7.9 in) across which is lined with vegetation. The female lays bout 6 to 9 eggs, mainly during April and May. They are oval, glossy, and pale yellow with dark brown blotches. The eggs are incubated for 19 to 25 days, the chicks usually can fly 12 to 13 days after hatching. They become fully grown after 30 to 35 days.
As a whole, Willow ptarmigan are widespread throughout their wide range. However, these birds are vulnerable to hunting, climate change, severe weather, and collisions with powerlines.
Presently, the Red grouse is not included in the IUCN Red List and its conservation status has not been evaluated.
