Hazel Grouse
Latin: Tetrastes bonasia (Linné 1758)
Svenska: Järpe
Deutsch: Haselhuhn
Skulking whistlers
If you hear a loud sucking whistle in the forest, it's likely a hazel grouse. It's probably close by, and you may see it if you look carefully. If you happen to scare it, it won't go far.
The hazel grouse lives in closed spruce forests and mixed deciduous forests, so it can be hard to spot. If you spot one, you'll probably have a chance to watch it for a while, because it isn't especially shy. It relies on its camouflaged plumage to make it difficult to see. Unlike the capercaillie, both male and female hazel grouse are greyish brown in colour.
The hazel grouse doesn't lek as the black grouse or capercaillie does. Instead, it attracts females with its call. The males court the females, and if one chooses him, he will be her mate for a long time.
These birds are found throughout the county, but are more common in forests where small-scale forestry is practiced. The hazel grouse population was larger before industrial forestry began.
Hazel grouse are non-migratory, and stay in Uppland all year round.
Photo: Wilfried Berns©
Latest sightings of hazel grouse in Uppland
NatureGate on the hazel grouse
Wikipedia article on the hazel grouse