Red Grouse - Grouse Hunting - Upland Hunting
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Description
The red grouse is plump, round with a gingery red body. The bird is reddish-brown and does not have a white winter plumage like willow ptarmigan or rock ptarmigan. The red grouse has a black tail and white legs. Their underwing has white stripes with a red comb over the eye. Females are less reddish compared to males with their combs being less conspicuous. It is crucial to note that young birds are duller and lack red combs.
With a length of 40 to 43 cm, red grouse's wingspan is 60 cm, and they weigh about 600g. The average lifespan of red grouse is 2 to 6 years.
Distribution and Habitat
Red grouse are endemic to the British Isles. However, these game birds have developed in isolation from other subspecies of the willow ptarmigan, which are more widespread in North America and northern parts of Europe and Asia. The bird is found on upland heathlands & moorland. Usually, the bird is characterized by suddenly flying upwards while rapidly whirring their wings.
Diet
Red grouse are herbivorous, and they mainly feed on seeds, flowers, and shoots of heather. These game birds can also feed on cereal crops, berries, and sometimes insects.
Breeding
Red grouse form pairs during autumn, with males becoming more territorial during winter. The nest is built on a shallow scrape about 20 cm lined with vegetation. Female red grouse lay 6 to 9 eggs, mainly in April or May. The eggs are oval with glossy & pale yellow and dark brown blotches. Females incubate the eggs for 19 – 25 days with the young ones flying after 12 – 13 days after hatching. However, the chicks are fully grown after 30 – 35 days (about a month).
The red grouse appears on the whiskey bottle ‘Famous Grouse.' With the game birds mainly found in North & South West England, Scotland and Wales, the Scottish grouse brand was born in 1896. The Scottish brand was named after the iconic Scottish bird. However, the popularity of the whiskey brand made the makers add ‘Famous' to the brand's title.
