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Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Galliformes
Family:
Tetraonidae
BTO Codes:
CP , CAPER
EURING No:
3350
Number in Britain:
2000 individuals (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
RED
European:
Not a species of concern
Global:
Least Concern
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IBC
Status in UK:
(BC3) Re-introduced Breeder
Subspecies:
urogallus recorded in Britain (of 9 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
74 cm
Wingspan:
106 cm
Weight:
M: 4.3 kg F: 2 kg
Scientific name from:
Gr.: tetraon =a type of gamebird
and German: auerhuhn =mountain cock + L.: gallus =a cock
World Distribution:
n&c Europe, n&c Asia
Habitat:
Conifer forest
Diet:
Summer, dwarf shrubs, sedges (chicks on insects, spiders), Winter, pine shoots and needles
TitBit:
Although Capercaillie have always been eaten (their remains occur in prehistoric middens), they have never been classified as Game as they were extinct by the time the Game Act was passed (1831)
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
No population trend available
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
1284 to 2758 individuals
in 2003-04
First Record:
12th Century
[Fossil evidence from
Wolstonian (penultimate) glaciation, c. 150,000 yr ago]
First Breeding Record:
Introduced Perthshire (after extinct 1770s) 1837
Latest Survey:
Eaton, M.A. et al. (2007) Bird Study 54:145-153
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
No habitat data from BBS
European Population Size:
Summer:
360 to 550 thousand pairs
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WCA(I,II,III,IX), WBD(I,II*,III*), Bern(II*,III)
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
57 x 42 mm
Egg Weight:
53.0 g (of which 8 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
2
Clutch Size:
7 - 11 eggs
Incubation:
24 - 26 days
by the:
Female
Fledging:
14 - 21 days
as:
Precocial, downy
First Clutches Laid:
Unavailable
Number of Broods:
1
Number Ringed:
2
Adult Survival:
No data
Juvenile Survival:
No data
Age at First Breeding:
Typical Lifespan:
No data
Maximum Recorded Age:
3yr6m
(Sweden: 9yr 4m)
Biometrics
Ring Size:
J* (females), L* (males)
Wing Length
Adult:
Insufficient Data.
Juvenile:
Insufficient Data.
Male:
Insufficient Data
Female:
Insufficient Data
Weight
Adult:
Insufficient Data.
Juvenile:
Insufficient Data.
Male:
Insufficient Data
Female:
Insufficient Data
Other Names
Western Capercaillie
Gaelic:
Capall-coille
Welsh:
Danish:
Tjur
Dutch:
Auerhoen
Finnish:
Metso; Koppelo
French:
Grand Tétras
German:
Auerhuhn
Hungarian:
Siketfajd
Icelandic:
Žišur
Irish:
Capall Coille
Italian:
Gallo cedrone
Norwegian:
Storfugl
Polish:
Gluszec zwyczajny
Portuguese:
Tetraz
Spanish:
Urogallo
Swedish:
Tjäder
Collective Noun: Tok
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Storch, I. 2001 BWP Update 3:1-24
Watson, A. & Moss, R. 2008 Grouse Collins, London
[598.543 WAT]
Harvie-Brown, J.A. 1879 The Capercaillie in Scotland David Douglas, Edinburgh
[598.543 HAR]
See Also:
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