Capercaillie

The capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) is the largest grouse species in Europe and lives in the forests of the Dolomites and the Alps. It is an impressive and fascinating bird, a symbol of the vast conifer forests of Europe and Asia.

In Italy the capercaillie lives exclusively in the Alps, where it inhabits extensive forests of spruce, larch and Swiss stone pine. It is a rather elusive species and difficult to observe, mainly because it leads a solitary life and moves with great caution through the quietest and least disturbed forests.

Those walking through the forests of the Dolomites at dawn, especially in spring, may sometimes hear from afar the distinctive call of the males during the mating season — one of the most ancient and evocative sounds of Alpine nature.

Where the capercaillie lives in the Dolomites

In the Dolomites the capercaillie lives mainly in large conifer forests located between 1,000 and 2,000 metres above sea level. It prefers quiet and undisturbed environments, characterised by mature forests of spruce, larch and Swiss stone pine, often with clearings, rich undergrowth and abundant bilberry plants.

These environments provide the capercaillie with everything it needs: tall trees where it can rest and take shelter, clearings where it can feed, and relatively open areas where it performs its complex spring courtship display.

The species is present in several areas of the Dolomites, particularly in large forest complexes that are less disturbed by human activity. Among the most favourable areas are the forests of the Dolomiti d’Ampezzo Natural Park, the Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park and other protected areas of the Alpine arc.

Despite this, the capercaillie remains a very difficult animal to observe. It is extremely cautious and tends to move through the quietest parts of the forest, avoiding frequently used trails. For this reason, most hikers never have the chance to encounter it, even if they often walk through its territory.

Those walking through the forests of the Dolomites at dawn, especially in spring, may sometimes hear from afar the distinctive call of the males during the mating season — one of the most ancient and evocative sounds of Alpine nature.

Description

The capercaillie is a large bird. The male can reach 90 centimetres in length and weigh more than 4 kilograms, while the female is much smaller and lighter.

The male is easily recognisable by its dark, almost black plumage with metallic green reflections on the chest and by its large fan-shaped tail, which it spreads during courtship. Above the eyes it has a distinctive red wattle.

The female, also known as the hen capercaillie, has a camouflaged brownish-reddish plumage with black and grey streaks that allows it to blend perfectly with the ground and forest vegetation.

Capercaillie call

The capercaillie’s song is one of the most characteristic aspects of this bird. During the mating season in spring, males gather in special areas known as display grounds, where they perform long and complex vocal sequences to attract females.

The song consists of a series of dry clicks and metallic sounds followed by a brief final scraping noise. During the last phase of the song the male becomes temporarily less attentive to surrounding sounds, a detail that hunters once took advantage of.

Capercaillie call recording – Simon Ernst – source: Xeno-canto

The moment when the capercaillie becomes “deaf”

The capercaillie’s song is one of the most fascinating phenomena of Alpine wildlife. During spring, at dawn, males gather in specific areas of the forest called display grounds, where they perform long vocal sequences to attract females and compete with other males.

The song consists of a series of dry clicks and metallic sounds followed by a final scraping phase. During this last part something unusual happens: the capercaillie becomes temporarily almost insensitive to external sounds.

In this final phase of the song the bird stretches its neck completely, opens its beak and contracts muscles in the head and auditory system. This causes a temporary reduction in its ability to perceive surrounding sounds, as if the bird became “deaf” for a few seconds.

This condition lasts only a few moments and probably serves both to protect the bird’s hearing from the loud sound it produces and to allow the male to focus on the courtship ritual.

In the past hunters were well aware of this detail: during that brief moment they could take a step forward in the forest without being noticed. Today this behaviour remains one of the most surprising curiosities of capercaillie biology.

Capercaillie display grounds

During the mating season, between April and May, male capercaillies gather in specific clearings in the forest known as display grounds, also called leks. These places are used year after year and represent the real stages of the courtship ritual.

In the Dolomites there are also historic display grounds, often located in quiet forests of larch and spruce, where this ancient ritual has been repeated every spring for generations.

At dawn, when the forest is still silent, the males begin to sing and perform spectacular displays: they spread their large fan-shaped tails, lower their wings and puff out their dark chest with metallic reflections. The song serves both to attract females and to intimidate other males present in the same arena.

In some display grounds several individuals gather, creating a form of competition. Dominant males occupy the best positions and have a greater chance of mating, while younger or subordinate males remain at the edges of the clearing.

Display grounds are extremely delicate environments. Human disturbance, especially during the early morning hours in spring, can compromise the mating ritual and negatively affect reproduction. For this reason these areas are carefully monitored and protected in many Alpine regions.

Behaviour

The capercaillie is mainly a sedentary and territorial species. It lives mostly on the ground but spends a considerable amount of time in trees, where it roosts and feeds.

Its diet consists mainly of conifer needles, buds, berries, leaves and seeds. During summer it also feeds on insects and small invertebrates, especially during the first months of the chicks’ lives.

Breeding takes place in spring. After mating, the female builds a nest directly on the ground, well hidden among vegetation, where she usually lays between 6 and 10 eggs.

Predators of the capercaillie

The capercaillie does not have a single predator, but several animals that can pose a threat, especially during the most delicate stages of its life.

The golden eagle is probably the most dangerous predator for adults, while on the ground the fox is highly effective, particularly against females and young birds. During the nesting period, eggs and chicks are also vulnerable to martens and other mustelids, as well as corvids such as crows and jays. The nutcracker, although less common in this role, may also take advantage of these situations.

Larger predators, such as the wolf or the lynx, may occasionally catch a capercaillie, but such events are rare. In general, the most critical time is the breeding season, when defence is more difficult and any disturbance can make a difference.

Protected species

The capercaillie is now considered a vulnerable species in many Alpine regions. The main threat is the loss and fragmentation of its habitat, caused by tourism development, infrastructure and human disturbance in forest areas.

Climate change also affects the survival of this species by altering mountain ecosystems and the environmental conditions necessary for its reproduction.

For this reason the capercaillie is protected by European and national legislation, and its conservation largely depends on safeguarding the most natural and least disturbed Alpine forests.

Can the capercaillie attack humans?

The capercaillie is normally a very shy and cautious animal that tends to avoid humans. However, during the mating season, between April and May, some males can become surprisingly aggressive.

At this time males defend their territory and display ground with great determination. The intense competition with other males and the high hormonal excitement may cause them to perceive any movement nearby as a threat or rival.

On rare occasions the capercaillie may approach a person in a threatening posture: it spreads its fan-shaped tail, lowers its wings, puffs out its chest and may even run towards the intruder trying to strike with its wings or beak.

These incidents are generally more common in areas where the birds have become accustomed to human presence or where they are fed by people. In natural conditions the capercaillie almost always prefers to slip quietly away into the forest.

For this reason, when encountering a capercaillie during the breeding season, it is always advisable to keep a safe distance and calmly leave the area, avoiding disturbance to the courtship ritual.

Curiosities

• The capercaillie is the largest galliform bird in Europe.
• Its name derives from the fact that it was historically associated with large conifer forests.
• During courtship the male fully spreads its tail like a fan and lowers its wings in a spectacular display.
• Display grounds may be used by the same individuals for many years.

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Scientific classification of the capercaillie

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