Caucasian Grouse Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi Scientific name definitions

38–53 cm, with female smaller; male 820–1005 g, female 712–820 g (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Very similar to L. tetrix, including bright red comb, but plumage greener black ; lacks white on wingbar and undertail-coverts ; long tail has shorter lyres , which partly curve downwards. Female grey-brown, narrowly barred black; tail almost square-ended. Irides dark brown, bill black and toes dark brown (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). First-winter and juvenile very similar to female, but both have more rufous-brown upperparts  and juvenile has faint whitish wingbar (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); after rapid moult to first-winter plumage, shows reduced black markings and whitish feather tips, with darker brown underparts; in males first black feathers appear by Nov and by spring is largely adult-like, except some brownish feathering over head, neck and wing-coverts (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); compared to adult, first-winter female has broader dark bars on tail and finer and more regular dark markings on upperparts (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Often placed with closely related L. tetrix in genus Lyrurus. Monotypic.

Great Caucasus (from R Beloi E to R Samur) and Little Caucasus (W to R Chorokhi) in extreme SW Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, S into NE Turkey, Karabakh Mts and NW Iran.

Typically in transition between upper limits of mountain forests (Picea orientalis, Betula) and subalpine meadows with rhododendron (Rhododendron caucasicum) thickets and stunted birch. After chicks hatch, broods can move onto alpine meadows; at this time habitat use by adult males differs from that used by well-camouflaged females, chicks and subadult males, which occupy relatively open, food-rich habitats, whereas adult males prefer ravines, where nutrition is poor, but tall grass protects them from aerial predators (2 Drovetski, S.V. and Rohwer, S. (2000). Habitat use, chick survival and density of Caucasian black grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi. Wildl. Biol.. 6: 233–240. Close ). In NW Caucasus, most birds live within vertical range of 300–500 m, centred on treeline. In summer, mainly found in subalpine meadows, while during winter tends to concentrate in upper parts of forests; on Great Cauacasus in Azerbaijan, occurs at 1700–3300 m, especially at c. 2400 m, but in winter descends to 700–1000 m (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); narrower altitudinal range in Turkey, where known solely at 1500–2900 m (3 Kirwan, G. M., K. A. Boyla, P. Castell, B. Demirci, M. Özen, H. Welch, and T. Marlow (2008). The Birds of Turkey: The Distribution, Taxonomy and Breeding of Turkish Birds. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Only limited altitudinal movements of up to 2 km definitely recorded, although suspected to move up to 15 km in Turkey (3 Kirwan, G. M., K. A. Boyla, P. Castell, B. Demirci, M. Özen, H. Welch, and T. Marlow (2008). The Birds of Turkey: The Distribution, Taxonomy and Breeding of Turkish Birds. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

In winter, mainly buds and catkins of birch (Betula), and fruits and needles of juniper (Juniperus); also dog rose (Rosa) fruits, Rhododendron leaves, spruce (Picea) needles and leaves of Vaccinium. During summer, mainly pods, stalks, flowers, berries and seeds of alpine plants, including Daphne, Vaccinium and Fragaria. Insects and spiders (4 Gokhelashvili, R., Reese, K.P. and Gavashelishvili (2003). How much do we know about the Caucasian Black Grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi? Sandgrouse. 25(1): 32–40. Close ) rarely taken by adults; during first 10–15 days, chicks eat almost exclusively insects, mainly beetles (Carabidae and Curculionidae), but also sawflies (Acrididae), flies (Coleoptera), moths (Heteroptera), butterflies (Lepidoptera), snails (Palmonata) and spiders (Arachnida) (4 Gokhelashvili, R., Reese, K.P. and Gavashelishvili (2003). How much do we know about the Caucasian Black Grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi? Sandgrouse. 25(1): 32–40. Close ), subsequently moving onto berries. In autumn, as birds descend into forest, they take spruce needles, crab apple leaves and acorns. Main foraging periods, at least during winter, are shortly after daybreak and in evening.

Remarkably silent, but wingbeats of male are audible during display (which consists of fluttering jumps of up to c. 1 m that expose the white underwing-coverts, as well as strutting walks) and birds also bill-snap during confrontations at lek; female reported to give an excited cackle (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Males possess a low vocal call in aggressive or mating situations, but more especially produce low-amplitude sounds during territorial flights: metallic-sounding gliding phases alternate with high-pitched wingbeat phases, while during flutter-jumps a high-pitched whistling sound is also produced; two sound sources are located in the wings and work independently (5 Bergmann, H.H., Klaus, S., Wiesner, J. and Vitovic, O. (1991). Die “stumme Balz”: Lautäußerungen männlicher Kaukausbirkhühner (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi) auf dem Balzplatz. Journal of Ornithology. 132(3): 267–278. Close ). Jumps are not coordinated between different males, but males increase the frequency of their jumps when female arrives at the lek (4 Gokhelashvili, R., Reese, K.P. and Gavashelishvili (2003). How much do we know about the Caucasian Black Grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi? Sandgrouse. 25(1): 32–40. Close ). Female flights are also noisy (5 Bergmann, H.H., Klaus, S., Wiesner, J. and Vitovic, O. (1991). Die “stumme Balz”: Lautäußerungen männlicher Kaukausbirkhühner (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi) auf dem Balzplatz. Journal of Ornithology. 132(3): 267–278. Close ).

Lays in May, but nests with eggs have been discovered in Turkey as late as first and second weeks of Jul (3 Kirwan, G. M., K. A. Boyla, P. Castell, B. Demirci, M. Özen, H. Welch, and T. Marlow (2008). The Birds of Turkey: The Distribution, Taxonomy and Breeding of Turkish Birds. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), and in Armenia at end of Jul (6 Adamian, M. S., and D. Klem (1999). Handbook of the Birds of Armenia. American University of Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia. Close ). Promiscuous; males form leks (mean size 50 m × 80 m) (4 Gokhelashvili, R., Reese, K.P. and Gavashelishvili (2003). How much do we know about the Caucasian Black Grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi? Sandgrouse. 25(1): 32–40. Close ), typically on open S-facing, 50–60° (7 Habibzadeh, N., Karami, M. and Tarinejad, A. (2010). Caucasian Black Grouse (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi) breeding display sites selection in Arasbaran Region, East Azerbaijan, Iran. Russ. Journal Ecol. 41(5): 450–457. Close ) slopes above treeline, but also in trough-like depressions or at upper edge of ravines (4 Gokhelashvili, R., Reese, K.P. and Gavashelishvili (2003). How much do we know about the Caucasian Black Grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi? Sandgrouse. 25(1): 32–40. Close ), attended in spring (mid Apr–late May, exceptionally late Jun) (4 Gokhelashvili, R., Reese, K.P. and Gavashelishvili (2003). How much do we know about the Caucasian Black Grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi? Sandgrouse. 25(1): 32–40. Close ) and autumn, usually by 6–15, more exceptionally up to 30 males; strong site fidelity (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), with lek-sites used for up to ten years (4 Gokhelashvili, R., Reese, K.P. and Gavashelishvili (2003). How much do we know about the Caucasian Black Grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi? Sandgrouse. 25(1): 32–40. Close ). First-year males may indulge in low-frequency displays, but do not defend specific sites, while two-year-old males (adult plumage) also lack clearly defined territories but display more intensely, whereas older males are dominant and occupy clear territories, from which they usually exclude other males , displaying longest and most intensely (4 Gokhelashvili, R., Reese, K.P. and Gavashelishvili (2003). How much do we know about the Caucasian Black Grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi? Sandgrouse. 25(1): 32–40. Close ). Display occurs both morning (pre-dawn to mid-morning) and evening (especially 18:00–19:00 hours), and females attend leks at both periods, but mating only observed during mornings (4 Gokhelashvili, R., Reese, K.P. and Gavashelishvili (2003). How much do we know about the Caucasian Black Grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi? Sandgrouse. 25(1): 32–40. Close ). Nest a shallow scrape (c. 19–24 cm wide and 5–7 cm deep) (8 Harrison, C. J. O., and P. Castell (2002). Bird Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of Britain and Europe with North Africa and the Middle East. Second revised edition. HarperCollins, London, UK. Close ), lined with grass, leaves (3 Kirwan, G. M., K. A. Boyla, P. Castell, B. Demirci, M. Özen, H. Welch, and T. Marlow (2008). The Birds of Turkey: The Distribution, Taxonomy and Breeding of Turkish Birds. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) and feathers, concealed in bushes (e.g. Rhododendron, Juniperus) or sometimes under a rock. Usually 5–6 pale creamy-buff eggs spotted brown or red-brown (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) (2–13) (4 Gokhelashvili, R., Reese, K.P. and Gavashelishvili (2003). How much do we know about the Caucasian Black Grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi? Sandgrouse. 25(1): 32–40. Close ), size 49·3–52·8 mm × 35·6–36 mm (4 Gokhelashvili, R., Reese, K.P. and Gavashelishvili (2003). How much do we know about the Caucasian Black Grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi? Sandgrouse. 25(1): 32–40. Close ); incubation 20–25 days, by female alone and chicks hatch synchronously (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); downy chick almost identical to but apparently slightly smaller than (4 Gokhelashvili, R., Reese, K.P. and Gavashelishvili (2003). How much do we know about the Caucasian Black Grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi? Sandgrouse. 25(1): 32–40. Close ) that of L. tetrix, perhaps paler and cap less distinctly bordered with black; chick apparently able to fly at 10–14 days and reaches adult size at c. 2 months (4 Gokhelashvili, R., Reese, K.P. and Gavashelishvili (2003). How much do we know about the Caucasian Black Grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi? Sandgrouse. 25(1): 32–40. Close ). Sex ratio on hatching is 1:1 (4 Gokhelashvili, R., Reese, K.P. and Gavashelishvili (2003). How much do we know about the Caucasian Black Grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi? Sandgrouse. 25(1): 32–40. Close ). Success: of 80 eggs, 60 hatched, with up to c. 25–30% lost due to predation and chilling (4 Gokhelashvili, R., Reese, K.P. and Gavashelishvili (2003). How much do we know about the Caucasian Black Grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi? Sandgrouse. 25(1): 32–40. Close ), and chick mortality is probably c. 50% in first month (4 Gokhelashvili, R., Reese, K.P. and Gavashelishvili (2003). How much do we know about the Caucasian Black Grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi? Sandgrouse. 25(1): 32–40. Close ) or one chick per 10 days (2 Drovetski, S.V. and Rohwer, S. (2000). Habitat use, chick survival and density of Caucasian black grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi. Wildl. Biol.. 6: 233–240. Close ); in Jul, mean brood size 3·7. Sexual maturity in first year, but males probably do not mate until at least second. Predators of adults include Northern Goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) (2 Drovetski, S.V. and Rohwer, S. (2000). Habitat use, chick survival and density of Caucasian black grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi. Wildl. Biol.. 6: 233–240. Close ).

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near Threatened. Included in USSR Red Data Book and protected by hunting regulations in most places. Considered Vulnerable in Turkey (3 Kirwan, G. M., K. A. Boyla, P. Castell, B. Demirci, M. Özen, H. Welch, and T. Marlow (2008). The Birds of Turkey: The Distribution, Taxonomy and Breeding of Turkish Birds. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Total range c. 12,000 km² (4 Gokhelashvili, R., Reese, K.P. and Gavashelishvili (2003). How much do we know about the Caucasian Black Grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi? Sandgrouse. 25(1): 32–40. Close ); in total, c. 20–25% of range is protected within nature reserves (Russia 15–20%, Armenia 1–2%, Azerbaijan 1–2%, Georgia 3–4% and Turkey 1%) (9 Storch, I. (2007). Grouse: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan 27747746–27741774. IUCN, Gland & World Pheasant Association, Fordingbridge. Close ). In undisturbed areas, e.g. 800 km² Teberda State Reserve in Russia, 1·5 birds per km² have been estimated from lek counts, but local spring density is up to 3·8 birds/km² (9 Storch, I. (2007). Grouse: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan 27747746–27741774. IUCN, Gland & World Pheasant Association, Fordingbridge. Close ), while in NW Caucasus, Russia, density estimated at 2·3 adults/km² in Jun/Jul (2 Drovetski, S.V. and Rohwer, S. (2000). Habitat use, chick survival and density of Caucasian black grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi. Wildl. Biol.. 6: 233–240. Close ). In late 1970s, was still reasonably numerous in suitable areas, but has now disappeared from some mountains at N & S limits of range. Overall population estimated at c. 70,000 birds in Greater Caucasus and 1984, but considered to have declined since (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), with local extirpations (4 Gokhelashvili, R., Reese, K.P. and Gavashelishvili (2003). How much do we know about the Caucasian Black Grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi? Sandgrouse. 25(1): 32–40. Close ), and just 500 in Lesser Caucasus in 1974, which population is now known to be significantly larger but perhaps also to have decreased. Most recent overall population estimate is 80,000–90,000 birds (9 Storch, I. (2007). Grouse: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan 27747746–27741774. IUCN, Gland & World Pheasant Association, Fordingbridge. Close ). In Azerbaijan, total population reckoned to be 1500–2000 birds; declining outside protected areas, due to intensive grazing of subalpine meadows, and predation of young by sheepdogs; fairly intense hunting pressure, especially in Little Caucasus. In Zakataly Reserve, NW Azerbaijan, recent censuses gave 252 birds in 1982, 257 in 1988, 136 in 1989 and 221 in 1990; only c. 30% of these were females, so total population probably somewhat higher; density of 20 birds/3–5 km route. Just c. 150–250 birds estimated in Iran, where only discovered in 1971, but a significant part of range is now within Arasbaran Protected Area (72,460 ha) (10 Scott, D.A. (2008). Rare birds in Iran in the late 19647s and 19747s. Podoces. 3(1–2): 1–30. Close ). Late-20th century survey of Kackar Mts in NE Turkey yielded 134 males at six sites; at least 50 males seen displaying at Sivrikaya, and more recently overall population in the country estimated at 1508–2675 individuals at 45 localities, of which 29 discovered only recently (11 Isfendiyaroğlu, S., Welch, G. and Ataol, M. (2007). The Caucasian black grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi in Turkey: recent survey results and conservation recommendations. Wildl. Biol.. 13(Suppl. 1): 13–20. Close ); computer modelling suggests overall range and thus numbers might be considerably larger there (12 Gottschalk, T.K., Ekschmitt, K., Isfendiyaroglu, S., Gem, E. and Wolters, V. (2007). Assessing the potential distribution of the Caucasian black grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi in Turkey through spatial modelling. Journal of Ornithology. 148(4): 427–434. Close ). In Turkey over-grazing is reportedly not a significant problem, but habitat dereliction and fragmentation, especially due to road construction, as well as human disturbance might be (11 Isfendiyaroğlu, S., Welch, G. and Ataol, M. (2007). The Caucasian black grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi in Turkey: recent survey results and conservation recommendations. Wildl. Biol.. 13(Suppl. 1): 13–20. Close ), and additional lower-level threats are intensive forestry practices, wood smuggling, mountain summer house construction, fuelwood collection, and intensive and extensive grazing and hay production (13 Baskaya, S. (2003). Distribution and principal threats to Caucasian black grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi in the Eastern Karadeniz Mountains in Turkey. Wildl. Biol.. 9: 377–383. Close ). Monitoring  of populations required. Held in captivity in Germany (14 Lucchini, V., Höglund, J., Klaus, S., Swenson, J. and Randi, E. (2001). Historical biogeography and a mitochondrial DNA phylogeny of grouse and ptarmigan. Mol. Phyl. & Evol.. 20(1): 149–162. Close ).