Red Grouse ? and split ? (1 Viewer)

Hi All,

Today I saw (I am pretty sure) my first (and 2nd) Red Grouse. It was in South Yorkshire near Sheffield in a place known as Hallam Moors.

I initially saw one bird on a hill which I assume was the male. It was a dark brown-red color but did not have the fleshy red above the eye (I assume it may be either a young bird or too late in the season). Its leg feathers were white and slightly too on the underside of the bird - is that normal? I then saw a lighter coloured bird a little bit further away. It was a "geyish-red" colour and also had more distinct speckles on its chest. Could not see its legs. I assume this was a female.

Does anyone disagree with my ID based on location and what has been described?

Also, when I looked for Red Grouse on my IOC Bird List, I could not find that common name ... can only find Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) ... is this the same bird?

Your ID sounds fine.

Red Grouse is the UK subspecies of Willow Grouse (Ptarmigan).

Victor Soares said:

I initially saw one bird on a hill which I assume was the male. It was a dark brown-red color but did not have the fleshy red above the eye (I assume it may be either a young bird or too late in the season). Its leg feathers were white and slightly too on the underside of the bird - is that normal?

Click to expand...

Yep, too late in the year - that's something they have most obvious in the spring for display. At this time of year, it is very small or not present.

Yep, white legs is normal, and yep, the paler browner one is a female.

Awesome - thanks for all the info, appreciate it.