About the Western Capercaillie
The western capercaillie, also known as the Eurasian capercaillie, wood grouse, heather cock, cock-of-the-woods, or simply capercaillie, is a heavy member of the grouse tribe and the largest of all extant grouse species. Found across Europe and the Palearctic, this primarily-ground-dwelling forest grouse is renowned for its courtship display. The bird shows extreme sexual dimorphism, with males nearly twice the size of females. The global population is listed as "least concern" under the IUCN, although the populations of central Europe are declining and fragmented, or possibly extirpated.
Source: Wikipedia
Taxonomy & Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Galliformes |
| Family | Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies (Phasianidae) |
| Species | Tetrao urogallus |
| Species Codes | wescap1, WECA |
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the Western Capercaillie belong to?
The Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) belongs to the Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies family (Phasianidae), in the order Galliformes.
How can I identify the Western Capercaillie?
The western capercaillie, also known as the Eurasian capercaillie, wood grouse, heather cock, cock-of-the-woods, or simply capercaillie, is a heavy member of the grouse tribe and the largest of all extant grouse species. Found across Europe and the Palearctic, this primarily-ground-dwelling forest g...
Where can I report a Western Capercaillie sighting?
You can log sightings of Western Capercaillie on eBird (ebird.org) using species code wescap1, or on iNaturalist.