Hazel Grouse
Tetrastes bonasia
Distinctive small grouse of dense coniferous forest, preferably with spruces. Usually very difficult to see. Spends most of its time on the ground but flushes with a distinctive wing whirr and may land high in trees. Males have a dark throat and dark tail tip, while females have a speckled white throat and shorter crest. Song of the male is surprisingly high and thin, recalling a Goldcrest.
Identification
This is a relatively small grouse at 35–39 cm (14–15 in) length. The plumage of this plump bird is finely patterned, but it essentially has grey upperparts, brown wings and chestnut flecked white underparts.<p>The male has a short erectile crest and a white-bordered black throat. The female has a shorter crest and lacks the black color on the throat. In flight, this species shows a black-tipped grey tail.<p>The male has a high-pitched ti-ti-ti-ti-ti call, and the female a liquid tettettettettet. These calls, along with the burr of the flying birds' wings, are often the only indication of this grouse's presence, since its shyness and dense woodland habitat make it difficult to see.
Taxonomy
The hazel grouse has 11 recognized subspecies:
- Scientific name
- Tetrastes bonasia
- Authority
- (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Genus
- Tetrastes
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Serinus nigriceps
An attractive seedeater of the Ethiopian highlands. The distinctive males have a black head and an olive-green and yellow body. Females are duller and heavily streaked, though less so below. Both sexes have a black wing with bold white wingbars. Found in a wide variety of montane habitats including forest edge, grassland, heath, cultivated areas, and areas of human habitation, usually in small flocks. The male is distinctive, but females can be confused with African Citril or Yellow-crowned Canary. They are distinguished by their lack of a pale eyebrow, darker overall coloration, stronger wingbars, and reduced streaking below. The song is a rapid jumble of twitters and whistles.
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A fairly scarce but widespread Andean parrot, occurring from western Venezuela to Bolivia. This parrot has a plain green body with red undertail coverts and yellowish bill. Head color varies from slaty blue to bright pinkish-maroon with variable amounts of white speckling, sometimes looking like it was dusted with thick snow. Pairs or small flocks occur in montane forest, typically from around 2,000 m up to treeline. This is higher on average than other montane Pionus parrots like Red-billed, although there is some overlap. Often seen flying overhead, where the deep wingbeats eliminate other genera of parrots (like Scaly-naped Parrot, which has shallower wingbeats typical of Amazona parrots).
Asian Houbara
Chlamydotis macqueenii
A medium-to-large bustard; significantly smaller than Great Bustard, but larger than Little Bustard. Overall tones are rather pale sandy. The neck is white with a vertical black stripe, most prominent in adult males. Females are slightly smaller and slimmer than males. Very similar to African Houbara, separated mainly by range. Display of male is an amusing dance in long straight lines across open hills with white ornamental feathers covering its tilting head. Breeds in dry steppe and semi-desert with scattered shrubs. Eastern populations migratory. Normally mute.
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