Caucasian Black Grouse

Caucasian Black Grouse
	Caucasian Black Grouse ( Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi )
Systematics
Class :	Birds (aves)
Order :	Chicken birds (Galliformes)
Family :	Pheasants (Phasianidae)
Subfamily :	Grouse (Tetraoninae)
Genre :	Black grouse ( Lyrurus )
Type :	Caucasian Black Grouse
Scientific name
	Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi
	( Taczanowski , 1875)

The Caucasian grouse ( Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi ) is a demersal species from the subfamily of the grouse (Tetraoninae). It occurs exclusively in the Caucasus . They are socially living birds whose flocks only split up into pairs during the breeding season. In its way of life, it largely resembles the black grouse that also occurs in Central Europe .

Appearance

The Caucasian grouse is a medium-sized grouse, which is somewhat smaller than in Central Europe common grouse is. Like many grouse, the species shows extreme sexual dimorphism in terms of color and drawing, but less pronounced in terms of size and weight. Males have a body length of 50 to 55 cm, of which about 18 cm are on the tail. They weigh between 820 and 1005 g. Females are smaller and lighter, they reach a body length of 37 to 42 cm and weigh between 712 and 820 g. Of all the grouse, the Caucasian black grouse has the relatively longest legs. In proportion, they approach those of the pheasants.

The body plumage in the male is predominantly matt black. They have a noticeably long tail that is significantly longer than that of the black grouse. The outermost tail feathers bend downward. The inner tail feathers are slightly shorter than the outer ones. The females are uniformly banded darkly on a gray-brown background. The chin and throat are whitish. The legs are feathered in both sexes, but the toes are bare.

Distribution area and habitat

The Caucasus Black Grouse occurs exclusively in the Caucasus . It has its main distribution area in the Greater Caucasus . In the Lesser Caucasus it occurs likewise. The stock is distributed accordingly to the states of Russia , Georgia (largest stock), Armenia , Azerbaijan , the northeast of Turkey and the extreme northwest of Iran .

In summer, the birds inhabit open areas at the tree line and with rhododendrons or junipers at heights of 1,500 to 3,000 m. It prefers combinations of subalpine and alpine meadows and areas of small birch, juniper, rhododendron and dog rose. In the winter half-year they migrate from the alpine regions to the subalpine ones. Therefore, the Caucasian black grouse occasionally comes down to an altitude of 700 meters.

wintering

The action space is not very large in the winter half-year, the Caucasus black grouse usually do not move more than a kilometer or two from their sleeping places. These are located on the slopes of the upper tree-shrub border, where the snow is loosest and deepest. They rest there during the night in sleeping chambers that are 15 to 25 centimeters long and 15 to 20 centimeters wide. When Harsch makes it impossible to dig sleeping chambers, the birds spend the night under an overhanging rock or under thick bushes.

They look for food in the morning or evening. They constantly seek out the tips of the walcholder and willow bushes protruding from the snow. During the middle of the day, they rest on sunny spots under the cover of bushes or rocks. If the weather is bad, they will dig themselves into the snow again.

food

Winter food consists of birch buds and catkins and juniper needles and berries. The buds, shoots and berries of mountain ash, fruits of alpine currants and maple buds and berries of snowball are also eaten. Until May this is the main food.

In the spring, black grouse eat mostly fresh greens and then the seeds of various grasses and perennials. In summer, leaves and shoots of bluebells, anemones, cinquefoil, leaves, shoots and flowers of bilberry and lingonberry predominate. From August onwards, their diet mainly includes berries from blueberry, blueberry, crow, currant, blackberry, bird and juniper berries as well as cornel cherries and rose hips. The transition to winter food takes place between September and November.

Reproduction

Outside the breeding season, the Caucasian black grouse lives in small groups. These are usually always slightly smaller than those of the black grouse. The community balt usually has six to twelve males together. However, up to 30 individuals have already been counted. The diet consists of buds and sprouts as well as juniper berries. Adult black grouse very rarely eat insects; Young birds, on the other hand, live almost exclusively on it during their first two weeks of life.

Caucasian black grouse use communal grouse areas. There the males courted at least for part of the day during the breeding season. Such so-called leks are mostly found on south-facing slopes and are often used over several years.

Females begin breeding in mid-May. The nest is usually located on south-facing slopes with a slope of 40 ° and is laid out in the protection of a tuft of grass or a bush. It is thus protected from views from above, while the brooding hen has a clear view down the slope and sideways. The eggs are laid in the second half of May.

supporting documents

literature

Jonathan Etzold (2003): Identification of the habitat of the black grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi in the East Caucasus (PDF; 4.6 MB). Diploma thesis, University of Greifswald.
Steve Madge , Phil McGowan, and Guy M. Kirwan: Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse. A Guide to the Pheasants, Partridges, Quails, Grouse, Guineafowl, Buttonquails and Sandgrouse of the world. Christopher Helm, London 2002, ISBN 0-7136-3966-0 .
RL Potapov, VE Fling (HRSG): Handbook of the birds of the Soviet Union. Volume 4: Galliformes, Gruiformes. Aula Verlag, Wiesbaden 1989, ISBN 3-89104-417-8
Lars Svensson, Peter J. Grant, Killian Mullarney, Dan Zetterström: The new cosmos bird guide . Kosmos, Stuttgart; 1999: pp. 104-105. ISBN 3-440-07720-9