Female Grouse but which species? Cairn Gorm, Scotland (1 Viewer)

[2spot Ladybird]

Whilst on holiday in the Highlands last week, on the way back from a view point near the top of Cairn Gorm, this Grouse casually strolled across the road. At first I thought it was a female Red Grouse but it isn't red in the slightest, also ruled out Capercaillie which leaves , Ptarmigan and Black Grouse. I don't think there's enough white on it to be a Ptarmigan so is it a Female Black Grouse or just a not very red Red Grouse?

This pic shows the colours as they looked
http://www.flickr.com/photos/99911415@N07/9456394791/

This pic is to show the whole bird (pic had to be lightened as it was a bit dark)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/99911415@N07/9456386665/in/photostream/

 

[dan pointon]

Black Grouse

 

[Adam W]

Black Grouse

Agreed.

 

[2spot Ladybird]

Thankyou both for confirming what I thought it was :t:

 

[Bowlander]

Were there any chicks with her?

 

[stevethehydra]

Has to be a Black Grouse on structure - a much longer, lankier bird than a Red Grouse. Would love to get that close to one...

 

[2spot Ladybird]

Were there any chicks with her?

Only saw her. Would have been even more amazing if there had been chicks || but I wouldn't have been happy about stopping the car if there had been.

 

[dwallace]

We had a similar experience in County Durham last week on a remote minor road when my wife spotted some Grouse chicks by the side of the road a few feet from the car. We stopped and initially kept the engine running. After a short while the mother, a Black Grouse, appeared and ushered the chicks into some denser vegetation, but with no great sense of urgency.

I think that because we were in a car we were not seen as any great threat.

Dave W