Capercaillie

Tetrao urogallus

Very rare & endangered species in extremely very low numbers in Scotland.

Extinct in Ireland.

Still breeds in good numbers in the Pine Forests of Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Alps & the Pyrenees.

Despite their size, they can be extremly hard birds to see.

Males are dark grey to dark brown, while the breast feathers are dark metallic green.

The belly and undertail coverts vary from black to white.

Females are much smaller, weighing about half as much as the Cock.

The call is a  a series of double-clicks like a dropping ping-pong ball, which gradually accelerate into a popping sound like a cork coming off a champagne bottle, which is followed by scraping sounds.