Willow Grouse
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The Willow Grouse (Lagopus lagopus) is a medium-sized bird in the grouse family. It is a sedentary species, breeding across northern Eurasia in birch and other forests and tundra.
It also occurs in Alaska and northern Canada, where it is called the Willow Ptarmigan. It is the state bird of Alaska.
The spring male is brown above with a reddish neck and white wings and underparts. The female is similar, but lacks the brown. In winter, both sexes' plumages become completely white except that the tail is black. They can be distinguished from the winter Ptarmigan by habitat (not venturing above the treeline), larger size, thicker bill, and lack of black between the eye and bill in the winter male.
The distinctive British form, the Red Grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus) has sometimes been considered a separate species. It is a moorland bird, and is basically reddish brown in all plumages, never going white.
The male's song is a loud "go-back go-back".
These are hardy vegetarian birds, but insects are also taken by the developing young. The female takes all responsibility for nesting and caring for the chicks, as is typical with gamebirds.
Scientific name
The Willow Grouse's scientific name, Lagopus lagopus comes from the Greek Lagos, meaning "hare", and pus, meaning foot. It refers to the bird's feathered legs.
Folklore
In Finnish Lapland, the Willow Grouse was considered "The bird of God" and represented purity, often being associated with females. In some parts of the country, parents would hang the legs and wings of a white grouse over a baby girl's cot to make sure she grew up virtuous. In Finnish folklore the willow grouse, like other birds of the grouse family, were considered spirit messengers and any unusual grouse behaviour was interpreted as a bad omen, most often death or illness.
In parts of Japan, the Willow Grouse is literally called the "thunder bird" (raichou) and according to legend protects people and buildings from fire and thunder.
References
- BirdLife International (2004). [Lagopus lagopus]. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
External links
- [The Game Conservancy Trust Red Grouse Page]
- [RSPB Red Grouse Page]
- [Video clip of male willow grouse in winter]
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