Scientific name: Bonasa bonasia (Linnaeus, 1758)
Bird group: Game birds
Field characters. 35-37 cm. A small tree-haunting grouse with the size of a Grey Partridge but with much longer tail. Upperparts grey-brown to rusty brown, barred darker on crested head, neck, and upper back; broad white stripes on sides of neck and on shoulders. Underparts whitish, boldly marked with brown, especially on flanks. Male has conspicuous black throat patch surrounded by white border. Female plumage like male's but duller and without crest; throat whitish. Juvenile like adult female but even duller. In flight both sexes show conspicuous black terminal band on grey tail; wings produce whirring sound.
Voice. In the breeding season, male utters a high-pitched whistle.
Distribution. Common resident.
Habitat. Confined to undisturbed mixed deciduous and coniferous woodland, favouring low cover.
Food. Mainly vegetarian, feeding on buds, shoots, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, and berries, but may also take ants and their larvae, beetles, and caterpillars.