From Opus

Bonasa bonasia

Photo by Daniele Occhiato.
Photo taken: Vaaltavara, Finland.

[edit] Identification

35-39cm length. Grey upperparts, brown wings and chestnut flecked white underparts.

The male has a short erectile crest and a white-bordered black throat. The female has a shorter crest and lacks the black throat.

[edit] Distribution

Northern Eurasia and central and eastern Europe

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Habitat

Dense, damp, mixed coniferous woodland, preferably with some spruce.

[edit] Behaviour

The nest is on the ground, and 3-6 eggs is the normal clutch size. The female takes all responsibility for incubating the eggs and caring for the chicks

This bird feeds on the ground, taking mainly plant food, supplemented by insects when breeding.

[edit] External Links