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  • Sunset over the River Thames near Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, UK
    154855.jpg
  • Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus L 60-90cm. Huge, impressive gamebird. Explodes into flight when disturbed, revealing long wings and tail. Male is almost half as big again as female and sexes are dissimilar in plumage terms. Adult male often looks all-dark but greenish sheen on breast is sometimes seen. Has brownish wings, red wattle above eye and rounded white spot at base of folded forewing. Tail is fanned elevated in display. Adult female has finely barred grey-brown plumage with orange-brown patch on breast. Juvenile resembles a small, dull female. Voice Male utters bizarre sequence of clicks followed by noise that resembles a cork being pulled from a bottle. Status Confined to mature Scots Pine forest in Scotland. Became extinct in 18th Century; current population results from re-introductions. Status Easiest to see at RSPB’s Loch Garten reserve.
    143757.jpg
  • Woodcock Scolopax rusticola L 35-38cm. Dumpy, long-billed wader with short legs and cryptic plumage. Mainly nocturnal. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have marbled chestnut, black and white plumage, palest and more extensively barred on underparts. Note large eyes, located high on head, giving bird almost complete all-round vision. Voice Male utters soft duck-like calls and explosive squeaks at dusk. Status Associated with wooded habitats; both mixed and deciduous woodland is favoured. Needs mosaic of open areas and dense canopy cover in breeding season. Migrants from as far as Russia boost winter numbers and then very locally common. Sadly many are shot. Observation tips Easiest to detect in spring: visit likely looking woodland at dusk and watch and listen for roding birds. Prolonged close views are tricky because bird is so difficult to spot.
    145946.jpg
  • Mountain Quail - Oreortyx pictus - male
    150353.jpg
  • Montezuma Quail - Cyrtonyx montezumae - male
    150309.jpg
  • Montezuma Quail - Cyrtonyx montezumae - male
    150307.jpg
  • Montezuma Quail - Cyrtonyx montezumae - male
    150298.jpg
  • Montezuma Quail - Cyrtonyx montezumae - male
    150292.jpg
  • Lesser Prairie-Chicken - Tympanunchus pallidicinctus - male
    149859.jpg
  • Lesser Prairie-Chicken - Tympanunchus pallidicinctus - male
    149860.jpg
  • Lesser Prairie-Chicken - Tympanunchus pallidicinctus - male
    149867.jpg
  • Lesser Prairie-Chicken - Tympanunchus pallidicinctus - male
    149868.jpg
  • Lesser Prairie-Chicken - Tympanunchus pallidicinctus - male
    149877.jpg
  • Lesser Prairie-Chicken - Tympanunchus pallidicinctus - male
    149876.jpg
  • Greater Sage-Grouse - Centrocerus urophasianus - male
    149037.jpg
  • Greater Sage-Grouse - Centrocerus urophasianus - male
    149033.jpg
  • Greater Sage-Grouse - Centrocerus urophasianus - male
    149031.jpg
  • Greater Sage-Grouse - Centrocerus urophasianus - male
    149029.jpg
  • Greater Sage-Grouse - Centrocerus urophasianus - male
    149027.jpg
  • Greater Sage-Grouse - Centrocerus urophasianus - male
    149026.jpg
  • Greater Sage-Grouse - Centrocerus urophasianus - male
    149015.jpg
  • Greater Sage-Grouse - Centrocerus urophasianus - mating pair
    149008.jpg
  • Greater Sage-Grouse - Centrocerus urophasianus - male
    149006.jpg
  • Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix L 40-45cm. Bulky moorland gamebird. Males display at traditional leks to interest nearby females. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has mainly dark plumage with red wattle above eye. Displaying birds elevate and spread tails (which look lyre-shaped) and reveal white undertail coverts. In flight, tail looks long and forked; wings have white bars. Adult female has orange-brown plumage finely marked with dark bars. In flight wings show narrow white bar. Juvenile resembles a small female with subdued markings. Voice Displaying male utters a bubbling, cooing call. Status Scarce and declining in many areas. Does best on moorland comprising mosaic of grassland, heather moorland, bilberry stands and adjacent woodland.
    155973.jpg
  • Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix L 40-45cm. Bulky moorland gamebird. Males display at traditional leks to interest nearby females. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has mainly dark plumage with red wattle above eye. Displaying birds elevate and spread tails (which look lyre-shaped) and reveal white undertail coverts. In flight, tail looks long and forked; wings have white bars. Adult female has orange-brown plumage finely marked with dark bars. In flight wings show narrow white bar. Juvenile resembles a small female with subdued markings. Voice Displaying male utters a bubbling, cooing call. Status Scarce and declining in many areas. Does best on moorland comprising mosaic of grassland, heather moorland, bilberry stands and adjacent woodland.
    155972.jpg
  • Pheasant Phasianus colchicus L 55-90cm. Male is colourful and unmistakable; female is also hard to confuse. Takes to the wing noisily and explosively when flushed. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male typically has orange-brown body plumage, blue-green sheen on head, large and striking red wattle and long, orange barred tail; some birds have a white collar. Violet-blue birds are sometimes released. Adult female is mottled buffish brown with shorter tail than male. Juvenile resembles a small, short-tailed female. Voice Territorial male utters a loud, shrieking call, followed by bout of vigorous wing beating. In alarm, a loud ke-tuk, ke-tuk, ke-tuk is uttered as bird flies away. Status Introduced and established here since 11th Century. Widespread and commonest in wooded farmland.
    155550.jpg
  • Pheasant Phasianus colchicus L 55-90cm. Male is colourful and unmistakable; female is also hard to confuse. Takes to the wing noisily and explosively when flushed. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male typically has orange-brown body plumage, blue-green sheen on head, large and striking red wattle and long, orange barred tail; some birds have a white collar. Violet-blue birds are sometimes released. Adult female is mottled buffish brown with shorter tail than male. Juvenile resembles a small, short-tailed female. Voice Territorial male utters a loud, shrieking call, followed by bout of vigorous wing beating. In alarm, a loud ke-tuk, ke-tuk, ke-tuk is uttered as bird flies away. Status Introduced and established here since 11th Century. Widespread and commonest in wooded farmland.
    155551.jpg
  • Great Bustard - Otis tarda, male displaying
    155242.jpg
  • Great Bustard - Otis tarda, male displaying
    155246.jpg
  • Great Bustard - Otis tarda, male displaying
    155247.jpg
  • Great Bustard - Otis tarda, male displaying
    155249.jpg
  • Great Bustard - Otis tarda, male displaying
    155251.jpg
  • Pheasant Phasianus colchicus L 55-90cm. Male is colourful and unmistakable; female is also hard to confuse. Takes to the wing noisily and explosively when flushed. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male typically has orange-brown body plumage, blue-green sheen on head, large and striking red wattle and long, orange barred tail; some birds have a white collar. Violet-blue birds are sometimes released. Adult female is mottled buffish brown with shorter tail than male. Juvenile resembles a small, short-tailed female. Voice Territorial male utters a loud, shrieking call, followed by bout of vigorous wing beating. In alarm, a loud ke-tuk, ke-tuk, ke-tuk is uttered as bird flies away. Status Introduced and established here since 11th Century. Widespread and commonest in wooded farmland.
    128945.jpg
  • Pheasant Phasianus colchicus L 55-90cm. Male is colourful and unmistakable; female is also hard to confuse. Takes to the wing noisily and explosively when flushed. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male typically has orange-brown body plumage, blue-green sheen on head, large and striking red wattle and long, orange barred tail; some birds have a white collar. Violet-blue birds are sometimes released. Adult female is mottled buffish brown with shorter tail than male. Juvenile resembles a small, short-tailed female. Voice Territorial male utters a loud, shrieking call, followed by bout of vigorous wing beating. In alarm, a loud ke-tuk, ke-tuk, ke-tuk is uttered as bird flies away. Status Introduced and established here since 11th Century. Widespread and commonest in wooded farmland.
    143296.jpg
  • Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus L 60-90cm. Huge, impressive gamebird. Explodes into flight when disturbed, revealing long wings and tail. Male is almost half as big again as female and sexes are dissimilar in plumage terms. Adult male often looks all-dark but greenish sheen on breast is sometimes seen. Has brownish wings, red wattle above eye and rounded white spot at base of folded forewing. Tail is fanned elevated in display. Adult female has finely barred grey-brown plumage with orange-brown patch on breast. Juvenile resembles a small, dull female. Voice Male utters bizarre sequence of clicks followed by noise that resembles a cork being pulled from a bottle. Status Confined to mature Scots Pine forest in Scotland. Became extinct in 18th Century; current population results from re-introductions. Status Easiest to see at RSPB’s Loch Garten reserve.
    143725.jpg
  • Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix L 40-45cm. Bulky moorland gamebird. Males display at traditional leks to interest nearby females. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has mainly dark plumage with red wattle above eye. Displaying birds elevate and spread tails (which look lyre-shaped) and reveal white undertail coverts. In flight, tail looks long and forked; wings have white bars. Adult female has orange-brown plumage finely marked with dark bars. In flight wings show narrow white bar. Juvenile resembles a small female with subdued markings. Voice Displaying male utters a bubbling, cooing call. Status Scarce and declining in many areas. Does best on moorland comprising mosaic of grassland, heather moorland, bilberry stands and adjacent woodland.
    143885.jpg
  • Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus Male bird in winter plumage L 34-36cm. Hardy, mountain gamebird. Indifferent to observers but easily overlooked: unobtrusive and blends in well with surroundings. In flight, both sexes reveal white wings and black tail. Forms small flocks outside breeding season. Sexes are separable with care. Adult male in winter is white except for dark eye, lores and bill. In spring and summer, has mottled and marbled greyish buff upperparts, amount of white on back decreasing with time; belly and legs are white while striking red wattle fades by mid-summer. Adult female in winter is white except for black eye and bill. In spring and summer, has finely barred buffish grey upperparts; extent of white on back diminishes with time. Juvenile resembles uniformly brown female. Voice Utters a rattling kur-kurrrr call. Status Confined to Scottish Highlands, favouring rocky ground with lichens, mosses and other mountain vegetation.
    144013.jpg
  • Pheasant Phasianus colchicus L 55-90cm. Male is colourful and unmistakable; female is also hard to confuse. Takes to the wing noisily and explosively when flushed. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male typically has orange-brown body plumage, blue-green sheen on head, large and striking red wattle and long, orange barred tail; some birds have a white collar. Violet-blue birds are sometimes released. Adult female is mottled buffish brown with shorter tail than male. Juvenile resembles a small, short-tailed female. Voice Territorial male utters a loud, shrieking call, followed by bout of vigorous wing beating. In alarm, a loud ke-tuk, ke-tuk, ke-tuk is uttered as bird flies away. Status Introduced and established here since 11th Century. Widespread and commonest in wooded farmland. Observation tips Easy to find.
    145829.jpg
  • Pheasant Phasianus colchicus L 55-90cm. Male is colourful and unmistakable; female is also hard to confuse. Takes to the wing noisily and explosively when flushed. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male typically has orange-brown body plumage, blue-green sheen on head, large and striking red wattle and long, orange barred tail; some birds have a white collar. Violet-blue birds are sometimes released. Adult female is mottled buffish brown with shorter tail than male. Juvenile resembles a small, short-tailed female. Voice Territorial male utters a loud, shrieking call, followed by bout of vigorous wing beating. In alarm, a loud ke-tuk, ke-tuk, ke-tuk is uttered as bird flies away. Status Introduced and established here since 11th Century. Widespread and commonest in wooded farmland. Observation tips Easy to find.
    145935.jpg
  • Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus L 60-90cm. Huge, impressive gamebird. Explodes into flight when disturbed, revealing long wings and tail. Male is almost half as big again as female and sexes are dissimilar in plumage terms. Adult male often looks all-dark but greenish sheen on breast is sometimes seen. Has brownish wings, red wattle above eye and rounded white spot at base of folded forewing. Tail is fanned elevated in display. Adult female has finely barred grey-brown plumage with orange-brown patch on breast. Juvenile resembles a small, dull female. Voice Male utters bizarre sequence of clicks followed by noise that resembles a cork being pulled from a bottle. Status Confined to mature Scots Pine forest in Scotland. Became extinct in 18th Century; current population results from re-introductions. Status Easiest to see at RSPB’s Loch Garten reserve.
    157520.jpg
  • Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus L 60-90cm. Huge, impressive gamebird. Explodes into flight when disturbed, revealing long wings and tail. Male is almost half as big again as female and sexes are dissimilar in plumage terms. Adult male often looks all-dark but greenish sheen on breast is sometimes seen. Has brownish wings, red wattle above eye and rounded white spot at base of folded forewing. Tail is fanned elevated in display. Adult female has finely barred grey-brown plumage with orange-brown patch on breast. Juvenile resembles a small, dull female. Voice Male utters bizarre sequence of clicks followed by noise that resembles a cork being pulled from a bottle. Status Confined to mature Scots Pine forest in Scotland. Became extinct in 18th Century; current population results from re-introductions. Status Easiest to see at RSPB’s Loch Garten reserve.
    157519.jpg
  • Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus L 60-90cm. Huge, impressive gamebird. Explodes into flight when disturbed, revealing long wings and tail. Male is almost half as big again as female and sexes are dissimilar in plumage terms. Adult male often looks all-dark but greenish sheen on breast is sometimes seen. Has brownish wings, red wattle above eye and rounded white spot at base of folded forewing. Tail is fanned elevated in display. Adult female has finely barred grey-brown plumage with orange-brown patch on breast. Juvenile resembles a small, dull female. Voice Male utters bizarre sequence of clicks followed by noise that resembles a cork being pulled from a bottle. Status Confined to mature Scots Pine forest in Scotland. Became extinct in 18th Century; current population results from re-introductions. Status Easiest to see at RSPB’s Loch Garten reserve.
    157516.jpg
  • Northern Bobwhite - Colinus virginianus - male
    150464.jpg
  • Northern Bobwhite - Colinus virginianus - male
    150462.jpg
  • Northern Bobwhite - Colinus virginianus - male
    150463.jpg
  • Northern Bobwhite - Colinus virginianus - male
    150461.jpg
  • Northern Bobwhite - Colinus virginianus - male
    150457.jpg
  • Northern Bobwhite - Colinus virginianus - male
    150446.jpg
  • Mountain Quail - Oreortyx pictus - male
    150357.jpg
  • Mountain Quail - Oreortyx pictus - male
    150356.jpg
  • Mountain Quail - Oreortyx pictus - male
    150355.jpg
  • Mountain Quail - Oreortyx pictus - male
    150354.jpg
  • Mountain Quail - Oreortyx pictus - male
    150352.jpg
  • Montezuma Quail - Cyrtonyx montezumae - male
    150308.jpg
  • Montezuma Quail - Cyrtonyx montezumae - male
    150310.jpg
  • Montezuma Quail - Cyrtonyx montezumae - male
    150305.jpg
  • Montezuma Quail - Cyrtonyx montezumae - male
    150306.jpg
  • Montezuma Quail - Cyrtonyx montezumae - male
    150303.jpg
  • Montezuma Quail - Cyrtonyx montezumae - male
    150301.jpg
  • Montezuma Quail - Cyrtonyx montezumae - male
    150299.jpg
  • Montezuma Quail - Cyrtonyx montezumae - male
    150297.jpg
  • Montezuma Quail - Cyrtonyx montezumae - male
    150296.jpg
  • Montezuma Quail - Cyrtonyx montezumae - male
    150293.jpg
  • Montezuma Quail - Cyrtonyx montezumae - male
    150290.jpg
  • Lesser Prairie-Chicken - Tympanunchus pallidicinctus - male
    149858.jpg
  • Lesser Prairie-Chicken - Tympanunchus pallidicinctus - male
    149862.jpg
  • Lesser Prairie-Chicken - Tympanunchus pallidicinctus - male
    149863.jpg
  • Lesser Prairie-Chicken - Tympanunchus pallidicinctus - male
    149866.jpg
  • Lesser Prairie-Chicken - Tympanunchus pallidicinctus - male
    149869.jpg
  • Lesser Prairie-Chicken - Tympanunchus pallidicinctus - male
    149870.jpg
  • Lesser Prairie-Chicken - Tympanunchus pallidicinctus - male
    149873.jpg
  • Lesser Prairie-Chicken - Tympanunchus pallidicinctus - male
    149878.jpg
  • Lesser Prairie-Chicken - Tympanunchus pallidicinctus - male
    149879.jpg
  • Greater Sage-Grouse - Centrocerus urophasianus - male
    149040.jpg
  • Greater Sage-Grouse - Centrocerus urophasianus - male
    149039.jpg
  • Greater Sage-Grouse - Centrocerus urophasianus - male
    149038.jpg
  • Greater Sage-Grouse - Centrocerus urophasianus - male
    149028.jpg
  • Greater Sage-Grouse - Centrocerus urophasianus - male
    149025.jpg
  • Greater Sage-Grouse - Centrocerus urophasianus - male
    149024.jpg
  • Greater Sage-Grouse - Centrocerus urophasianus - male
    149023.jpg
  • Greater Sage-Grouse - Centrocerus urophasianus - male
    149022.jpg
  • Greater Sage-Grouse - Centrocerus urophasianus - male
    149005.jpg
  • Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix L 40-45cm. Bulky moorland gamebird. Males display at traditional leks to interest nearby females. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has mainly dark plumage with red wattle above eye. Displaying birds elevate and spread tails (which look lyre-shaped) and reveal white undertail coverts. In flight, tail looks long and forked; wings have white bars. Adult female has orange-brown plumage finely marked with dark bars. In flight wings show narrow white bar. Juvenile resembles a small female with subdued markings. Voice Displaying male utters a bubbling, cooing call. Status Scarce and declining in many areas. Does best on moorland comprising mosaic of grassland, heather moorland, bilberry stands and adjacent woodland.
    155970.jpg
  • Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix L 40-45cm. Bulky moorland gamebird. Males display at traditional leks to interest nearby females. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has mainly dark plumage with red wattle above eye. Displaying birds elevate and spread tails (which look lyre-shaped) and reveal white undertail coverts. In flight, tail looks long and forked; wings have white bars. Adult female has orange-brown plumage finely marked with dark bars. In flight wings show narrow white bar. Juvenile resembles a small female with subdued markings. Voice Displaying male utters a bubbling, cooing call. Status Scarce and declining in many areas. Does best on moorland comprising mosaic of grassland, heather moorland, bilberry stands and adjacent woodland.
    155971.jpg
  • Great Bustard - Otis tarda, male displaying
    155243.jpg
  • Great Bustard - Otis tarda, male displaying
    155244.jpg
  • Great Bustard - Otis tarda, male displaying
    155252.jpg
  • Lady Amherst's Pheasant - Chrysolophus amherstiae - male
    155072.jpg
  • Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus L 60-90cm. Huge, impressive gamebird. Explodes into flight when disturbed, revealing long wings and tail. Male is almost half as big again as female and sexes are dissimilar in plumage terms. Adult male often looks all-dark but greenish sheen on breast is sometimes seen. Has brownish wings, red wattle above eye and rounded white spot at base of folded forewing. Tail is fanned elevated in display. Adult female has finely barred grey-brown plumage with orange-brown patch on breast. Juvenile resembles a small, dull female. Voice Male utters bizarre sequence of clicks followed by noise that resembles a cork being pulled from a bottle. Status Confined to mature Scots Pine forest in Scotland. Became extinct in 18th Century; current population results from re-introductions. Status Easiest to see at RSPB’s Loch Garten reserve.
    100868.jpg
  • Grey Partridge Perdix perdix L 29-31cm. Well-marked gamebird. Usually seen in small parties. Hunted and consequently wary; prefers to run from danger. Sexes are separable with care. Adult male has mainly grey, finely marked plumage with orange-buff face, large chestnut mark on belly, maroon stripes on flanks and streaked back. Adult female is similar but marking on belly is small. Juvenile is grey-buff with hint of adult’s dark markings. Voice Utters a choked, harsh kierr-ikk call. Status Native of grassland and arable farmland with mature hedgerows. Once abundant, now scarce due to modern farming methods. Observation tips Easiest to see in winter.
    108795.jpg
  • Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus L 37-42cm. Familiar moorland gamebird. If alarmed, takes to the air explosively; flight comprises bouts of rapid wingbeats and long glides on bowed wings. Both sexes have uniformly dark wings. Sexes are separable with care. Adult male has chestnut-brown plumage overall; fine feather markings visible at close range. Note red wattle above eye. Adult female has paler, more buffish grey and marbled plumage than male: well camouflaged when sitting on nest. Juvenile resembles adult female but with less well-marked plumage markings. Voice Utters a distinctive, go-back, go-back, go-back. Status Confined to heather moorland and feeds primarily on shoots of Heather and related plants. Moors are sometimes managed by selective burning for grouse (encourages young plant growth).
    113659.jpg
  • Pheasant Phasianus colchicus L 55-90cm. Male is colourful and unmistakable; female is also hard to confuse. Takes to the wing noisily and explosively when flushed. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male typically has orange-brown body plumage, blue-green sheen on head, large and striking red wattle and long, orange barred tail; some birds have a white collar. Violet-blue birds are sometimes released. Adult female is mottled buffish brown with shorter tail than male. Juvenile resembles a small, short-tailed female. Voice Territorial male utters a loud, shrieking call, followed by bout of vigorous wing beating. In alarm, a loud ke-tuk, ke-tuk, ke-tuk is uttered as bird flies away. Status Introduced and established here since 11th Century. Widespread and commonest in wooded farmland.
    127291.jpg
  • Spotted Sandgrouse - Pterocles senegalus
    127799.jpg
  • Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix L 40-45cm. Bulky moorland gamebird. Males display at traditional leks to interest nearby females. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has mainly dark plumage with red wattle above eye. Displaying birds elevate and spread tails (which look lyre-shaped) and reveal white undertail coverts. In flight, tail looks long and forked; wings have white bars. Adult female has orange-brown plumage finely marked with dark bars. In flight wings show narrow white bar. Juvenile resembles a small female with subdued markings. Voice Displaying male utters a bubbling, cooing call. Status Scarce and declining in many areas. Does best on moorland comprising mosaic of grassland, heather moorland, bilberry stands and adjacent woodland.
    137613.jpg
  • Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus L 34-36cm. Hardy, mountain gamebird. Indifferent to observers but easily overlooked: unobtrusive and blends in well with surroundings. In flight, both sexes reveal white wings and black tail. Forms small flocks outside breeding season. Sexes are separable with care. Adult male in winter is white except for dark eye, lores and bill. In spring and summer, has mottled and marbled greyish buff upperparts, amount of white on back decreasing with time; belly and legs are white while striking red wattle fades by mid-summer. Adult female in winter is white except for black eye and bill. In spring and summer, has finely barred buffish grey upperparts; extent of white on back diminishes with time. Juvenile resembles uniformly brown female. Voice Utters a rattling kur-kurrrr call. Status Confined to Scottish Highlands, favouring rocky ground with lichens, mosses and other mountain vegetation.
    143779.jpg
  • Pheasant Phasianus colchicus L 55-90cm. Male is colourful and unmistakable; female is also hard to confuse. Takes to the wing noisily and explosively when flushed. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male typically has orange-brown body plumage, blue-green sheen on head, large and striking red wattle and long, orange barred tail; some birds have a white collar. Violet-blue birds are sometimes released. Adult female is mottled buffish brown with shorter tail than male. Juvenile resembles a small, short-tailed female. Voice Territorial male utters a loud, shrieking call, followed by bout of vigorous wing beating. In alarm, a loud ke-tuk, ke-tuk, ke-tuk is uttered as bird flies away. Status Introduced and established here since 11th Century. Widespread and commonest in wooded farmland.
    144004.jpg
  • Pheasant Phasianus colchicus L 55-90cm. Male is colourful and unmistakable; female is also hard to confuse. Takes to the wing noisily and explosively when flushed. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male typically has orange-brown body plumage, blue-green sheen on head, large and striking red wattle and long, orange barred tail; some birds have a white collar. Violet-blue birds are sometimes released. Adult female is mottled buffish brown with shorter tail than male. Juvenile resembles a small, short-tailed female. Voice Territorial male utters a loud, shrieking call, followed by bout of vigorous wing beating. In alarm, a loud ke-tuk, ke-tuk, ke-tuk is uttered as bird flies away. Status Introduced and established here since 11th Century. Widespread and commonest in wooded farmland.
    144005.jpg
  • Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus Male bird in winter plumage L 34-36cm. Hardy, mountain gamebird. Indifferent to observers but easily overlooked: unobtrusive and blends in well with surroundings. In flight, both sexes reveal white wings and black tail. Forms small flocks outside breeding season. Sexes are separable with care. Adult male in winter is white except for dark eye, lores and bill. In spring and summer, has mottled and marbled greyish buff upperparts, amount of white on back decreasing with time; belly and legs are white while striking red wattle fades by mid-summer. Adult female in winter is white except for black eye and bill. In spring and summer, has finely barred buffish grey upperparts; extent of white on back diminishes with time. Juvenile resembles uniformly brown female. Voice Utters a rattling kur-kurrrr call. Status Confined to Scottish Highlands, favouring rocky ground with lichens, mosses and other mountain vegetation.
    144012.jpg
  • Woodcock Scolopax rusticola L 35-38cm. Dumpy, long-billed wader with short legs and cryptic plumage. Mainly nocturnal. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have marbled chestnut, black and white plumage, palest and more extensively barred on underparts. Note large eyes, located high on head, giving bird almost complete all-round vision. Voice Male utters soft duck-like calls and explosive squeaks at dusk. Status Associated with wooded habitats; both mixed and deciduous woodland is favoured. Needs mosaic of open areas and dense canopy cover in breeding season. Migrants from as far as Russia boost winter numbers and then very locally common. Sadly many are shot. Observation tips Easiest to detect in spring: visit likely looking woodland at dusk and watch and listen for roding birds. Prolonged close views are tricky because bird is so difficult to spot.
    145942.jpg
  • Woodcock Scolopax rusticola L 35-38cm. Dumpy, long-billed wader with short legs and cryptic plumage. Mainly nocturnal. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have marbled chestnut, black and white plumage, palest and more extensively barred on underparts. Note large eyes, located high on head, giving bird almost complete all-round vision. Voice Male utters soft duck-like calls and explosive squeaks at dusk. Status Associated with wooded habitats; both mixed and deciduous woodland is favoured. Needs mosaic of open areas and dense canopy cover in breeding season. Migrants from as far as Russia boost winter numbers and then very locally common. Sadly many are shot. Observation tips Easiest to detect in spring: visit likely looking woodland at dusk and watch and listen for roding birds. Prolonged close views are tricky because bird is so difficult to spot.
    145944.jpg
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