The Capercaillie is the world’s largest grouse and the whole UK population lives in Scotland. The males are very large and black, with red around the eyes, and a pale beak. The females are about two-thirds the size and reddish-brown. Capercaillie were extinct in the UK by the early nineteenth century and were successfully reintroduced in the 1830s, but is once again at risk of extinction. They live in Caledonian pinewood and commercial conifer forestry. Their stronghold is in Strathspey, in the Cairngorms National Park, with smaller populations in Easter Ross, Nairnshire, Moray, Deeside and Perthshire.
Capercaillie are on the Scottish Biodiversity List, which identifies species that are of the most importance to biodiversity in Scotland. They are also on the UK Birds of Conservation Concern Red List.
Photos: Ben Andrew, Sam Turley and Richard Mason for rspb-images.com
Illustration: Mike Langman for rspb-images.com
Action Needed
We are working to reduce human disturbance through schemes like Lek It Be, which encourages birders and nature-lovers not to go looking for Capercaillie.
We are also working to improve and expand Caledonian pinewood, in partnerships like Cairngorms Connect. Our reserve at Abernethy has been using cattle that are moved around the forest to improve the habitat and forest structure and robocutters to reduce heather dominance, as well as restoring bog woodland, an important resource for Capercaillie.
We are working with Scottish Forestry and others to reduce deer fencing and improve take-up of fence removal where it is no longer needed, by changes to the Forestry Grant Scheme.
We also need to redouble our efforts to tackle climate change, so that Capercaillie have the conditions they need for a successful breeding season.
Threats
Capercaillie are very sensitive to human disturbance. They also suffer from a lack of suitable and well-connected pine forest habitat, and they are vulnerable to collisions with deer fencing where this is not clearly marked. Climate change is a big problem for Capercaillie, because wet, cold weather in June makes it hard for chicks to survive, especially if the habitat isn’t in great condition.
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