| Caucasian grouse | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Galliformes |
| Family: | Phasianidae |
| Genus: | Lyrurus |
| Species: | L. mlokosiewiczi |
| Binomial name | |
| Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Taczanowski, 1875) | |
| Synonyms | |
Tetrao mlokosiewiczi | |
TheCaucasian grouse orCaucasian black grouse (Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi) is a largebird in thegrouse family. It is closely related to theblack grouse (L. tetrix).
As with manygamebirds, the cock (male) is larger than the hen (female), measuring 50–55 cm compared to her length of 37–42 cm. The cock is very distinctive, with all-black plumage, apart from red eyebrows, and a long, deeply forked tail. The female Caucasian grouse is grey with dark barring, and has a cackling call.[2]
It occurs in extreme southeasternEurope and adjacent regions. The scientific name of this bird commemorates the Polish naturalistLudwik Mlokosiewicz. The Caucasian grouse is a sedentaryspecies, breeding in theCaucasus andPontic Mountains of northeastTurkey andIran on open slopes with lowRhododendron or other scrubs but in proximity to deciduous broad-leaf forest.
They have a group display orlek in May and June. Unlike the male Eurasian black grouse, the Caucasian grouse display is almost mute but for a thin whistling of the cock fluttering his wings as he leaps and turns in the air, producing a flash of white as the underwing feathers are briefly revealed.[2] The hen lays up to ten eggs in a ground scrape and takes all responsibility for nesting and caring for the chicks, as is typical with gamebirds.
It is perhaps the least-studied of all grouse in the world, and it was formerly classified asData Deficient by theIUCN.[1][3] Recent research shows that it is declining to some extent, and it is consequently listed as aNear Threatened species in 2008[4] with an estimated population of 30,203–63,034 worldwide in 2010. Conservation efforts have included encouragingecotourism as a way to promote awareness of the bird and its habitat.[5]
