The Red Grouse, (Lagopus lagopus) features large on the British
sporting calandar when the "Glorious Twelfth" ( 12 August ) signals the opening of the shooting season. A charactersitic game bird,
it is stout and short-winged, a basically ground feeding bird. The rufous-brown plummage looks very dark at a distance and only at
close quarters can the white feathered legs and red wattle ovre the eye can be seen. When flushed it rises with whirring wings,
ususally calling loudly. Its rapid wing beats followed by long glides on down-curved are distictive. It feeds on young heather shoots
on buds and berries. The young chicks feed predominently on insects.
Extract from RSPB Complete Birds of Britain by Rob Hume. The Collins Gem Guide. Birds.
British Birds a Field Guide by Alan J Richards.
