Current view: Data table and detailed info
Taxonomic note
Lyrurus tetrix (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) was previously placed in the genus Tetrao. Original note from Illustrated Checklists: Often placed with closely related L. mlokosiewiczi in genus Tetrao. Commonly hybridizes with Tetrao urogallus, and quite often with Lagopus lagopus, both hybrids even receiving vernacular names; also occasionally with Lagopus muta and Tetrastes bonasia. Geographical variation clinal: race tschusii often included in viridanus, but likely an intergrade; baikalensis sometimes subsumed within ussuriensis. Proposed race fedjuschini (from NW & N Ukraine) included in nominate. Review of subspecies required. Seven subspecies currently recognized.
Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.
IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Red List history
| Migratory status |
not a migrant |
Forest dependency |
medium |
| Land-mass type |
|
Average mass |
- |
Population justification: In Europe, the total population size is estimated at 2,430,000-3,750,000 mature individuals, with 1,210,000-1,880,000 breeding calling males (BirdLife International 2021), and comprises approximately 35% of the species' global range, so a very preliminary estimate of the global population size is between 6,940,000-10,700,000 mature individuals, although further validation of this estimate is desirable. The European trend for this species is not known (BirdLife International 2021), although its population in Fennoscandia has fluctuated (PECBMS 2023). The population has suffered major declines and range contractions over much of its range owing to afforestation of heathland, increased cultivation and planting of coniferous monocultures, and also suffers locally from over-hunting (del Hoyo et al. 1994). This species is considered to have a medium dependency on forest habitat, which is estimated to be declining at a rate of 7.1% over the past three generations within its mapped range (Global Forest Watch 2024). Therefore, as a precautionary measure, it is tentatively suspected that this loss of cover may have led to a slow decline over the same time frame.
Trend justification: .
Country/territory distribution
Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Black Grouse Lyrurus tetrix. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/black-grouse-lyrurus-tetrix on 23/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/11/2024.
