Willow Grouse
(Lagopus lagopus )
Willow grouse (Europe) or Willow Ptarmigan (North America) are a medium sized grouse and is a sub-species of the British Red grouse. These birds inhabit areas around the edge of marshes or lakes with young trees and nest in open tundra habitat in Northern Europe, Alaska and Northern Canada.
Description
In the both sexes their winter plummage is white with black tails, above the males eyes he has red fleshy combs. In the spring the male turns brown from the chest up and his neck turns more reddish, he keeps his white underbelly and wings. The female is similiar in colour but is less white on her underbelly. Their character is the same as the British Red grouse even down to their call go-bak go-bak.
Reproducation
Willow grouse are monogamous and the males defend a territory that the female visits in the spring, then around April-May they lay approx 6-9 eggs (incubation takes 22-25 days). Both male and female raise and defend the chicks.
Diet
A Willow grouse's diet includes willow, heather, spring catkins (birch, alder, poplar), hazel, insects etc. Their diet also depends on the geography of the bird and the foods available to them in their habitat.
In Captivity
Willow grouse are not that hard to keep but they do take a lot more time and effort, especially with diet. Willow have the same character as Red and are a good grouse for beginners.
