Spotting a black grouse is a rare treat. The striking males are easy to identify. Look out for their vivid red 'eyebrows', glossy blue-black feathers, and cackling cry. Their female counterparts, called greyhens, are masters of camouflage, raising chicks among the heather.
These iconic birds are in trouble: black grouse are now one of the UK’s fastest-declining birds.
We’re committed to reversing that trend. Working alongside Galloway Glens and the RSPB, we’re taking steps to restore habitats and give the black grouse a fighting chance. First get to know these magnificent birds.
Meet the black grouse
Curious, elusive, and full of character, the black grouse is one of Scotland’s most remarkable birds. If you’re lucky you might spot one or see signs that some are nearby.
Habitat restoration
To give the black grouse a brighter future, we've been taking steps to improve their habitats. Dense coniferous forest has replaced much of the open space that black grouse depend on. In recognition of this, we are making our forests more diverse to aid the black grouse, as well as a large amount of other wildlife. In Galloway, where black grouse still have a stronghold, we’ve gone even further to support this important population.
An area near Clatteringshaws, around 85 hectares (or 130 football fields), underwent extensive restoration between 2018 and 2019. This included the removal of many non-native conifer trees to return the land to a mosaic of habitats. Since then, we’ve seen black grouse return to this area. However, the story is far from over.
Looking ahead
Staff and volunteers spent around 200 hours in the spring of 2021 looking for black grouse during their annual lek. This mating display is acknowledged as the best way to gauge the number of breeding birds present. Whilst many grouse were either seen or heard, some known lek sites appeared not to have been in use. This made it unclear if the population had suffered further decline due to a lack of chicks surviving into adulthood.
The work done so far is only a start and ongoing monitoring is essential. If the black grouse is to thrive, more land needs to be managed on a large scale with its needs in mind. We have worked with Galloway Glens, the RSPB and the Black Grouse Project Officer to create grouse management plans.
These will allow us to manage land with the needs of the black grouse in mind.
Only time will tell the success of these plans, but we’re proud to be doing our part to help this iconic bird.