Red Grouse Life Cycle: Nest Building To Fledging (and everything in between)
Red Grouse are around the same size as a Grey Partridge or a small farmyard hen. They have mottled brown feathers which provide camouflage against the heather which covers their moorland habitats.
They have a short tail,a hook-tipped bill, their feet and legs are covered in pale feathers and they have red combs above the eyes that look like red eyebrows. If you accidentally flush a Red Grouse from cover in the heathlands or moorlands that they inhabit you will hear the distinctive “go-back, go-back” call as they fly away.
In this article we’ll take a closer look at the early life cycle of the Red Grouse from nesting to fledging and much more besides. Keep reading to find out more.
Table of Contents
How Long Does A Red Grouse Live?
Red Grouse have an average lifespan of around 2 to 3 years with some individuals occasionally reaching an age of 9 or 10 but this is rare. Almost ⅔ of the population will die in their first year.
Birds that have not been shot have a better survival rate due to reduced competition for food etc. They reach sexual maturity and can breed at around 1 year of age.
In many areas the heathlands and moorlands are managed to provide Red Grouse for hunting purposes.
How Fast Can A Red Grouse Fly?
Although they typically prefer to walk or run, Red Grouse are the fastest of all British game birds and can achieve flight speeds of up to 70 mph (112.6 km/h) which is an impressive 31 metres per second. They fly low over their heathland and moorland habitats and can change direction without warning.
These high speeds and direction changing tactics may be of some assistance in evading the hunter’s guns. However, there are an estimated 700,000 Red Grouse shot in the UK each year.
The Grouse shooting season known as “the glorious twelfth” starts on the 12th of August and ends on the 10th of December in mainland Britain and the 30th of November in Northern Ireland. Gamekeepers maintain the Red Grouse population at exceptionally high numbers specifically for hunting during the season.
These birds, destined to be shot, are wild and live in the tough conditions of upland moorlands in Great Britain and Ireland.
Are Red Grouse Aggressive?
Like many birds, Red Grouse can be quite aggressive especially during the breeding season. Male Red Grouse are territorial and will defend their breeding territory against intruders including other males.
They often display aggression by chasing, calling and even physical confrontations to protect their territory and maintain their dominance. This ensures that they have access to enough resources to support their mate and future offspring.
Once the breeding season has finished, they become far more peaceful and much less aggressive or territorial.
What Is A Red Grouse’s Habitat?
Red Grouse live in heather moorland habitats in Britain and Ireland. Red Grouse are native to Great Britain and can be spotted in north and south west England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
They prefer open upland heather moors at altitudes of between 350 to 700 metres. They remain in the same habitats all year round and their mottled brown feathers help to keep them camouflaged in the heather.
How Long Does It Take For A Red Grouse To Build A Nest?
It takes a Red Grouse anywhere between a few hours and one day to build a nest. They don’t build elaborate nests like some birds, instead they create a shallow depression in the ground which is known as a scrape nest.
The female will select the site and make the nest. She will choose a spot that is hidden amongst vegetation which offers some protection from the weather and hidden from predators.
Eggs
Once she has prepared the nest to her liking, she will lay her eggs directly into it.
When Do Red Grouse Lay Eggs?
The exact time that Red Grouse lay their eggs depends on the temperature and weather conditions. The female will typically lay her eggs between late April and early May.
If the weather is warmer earlier in the spring, egg laying may be earlier and in colder springs she might delay egg laying until the weather improves.
How Many Eggs Does A Red Grouse Lay?
A typical clutch is around 6 to 9 eggs but it’s not unheard of for the female to lay as many as 12 eggs. They are incubated solely by the female but the male remains close by to offer protection and food as and when needed.
What Do Red Grouse Eggs Look Like?
Red Grouse eggs are oval, pale yellow in colour and covered in dark brown blotches or spots. These markings act as the perfect camouflage when sitting in the shallow scrape nest.
Each egg is around 42 x 31 mm in size and weighs around 21.5 grams of which 7% is the weight of the shell.
How Long Do Red Grouse Eggs Take To Hatch?
The eggs are incubated by the female alone and incubation starts once the last egg is laid. The eggs hatch after around 19 to 25 days. She is responsible for regularly turning the eggs so that the embryo doesn’t get stuck and she also needs to regulate the temperature of each egg to ensure it doesn’t get too cold or too hot.
Chicks
Once the incubation period reaches an end and the chicks hatch, we move on to the next stage in the life cycle of the Red Grouse.
How Many Chicks Does A Red Grouse Have?
The number of chicks generally corresponds with how many eggs were laid but is dependent on the experience and health of the female. Typically from a clutch of 9 eggs, 8 chicks will hatch successfully.
When Do Red Grouse Chicks Open Their Eyes?
Red Grouse chicks are hatched covered in downy feathers and with their eyes open. These precocial chicks have their nutritious egg sac to sustain them through their first 24 hours.
After this time they will leave the nest and follow their parents in the hunt for food. Red Grouse are mainly herbivorous and eat shoots, seeds and flowers from the heather that grows freely in their habitats.
However, the chicks are often fed on small insects and invertebrates as these are rich in the protein needed for their growth and development.
When Do Red Grouse Chicks Fledge?
Red Grouse chicks are typically able to fly around 12 or 13 days after hatching. This doesn’t mean they leave their parents though, as they don’t generally become fully grown until they are around 30 to 35 days old.
SEE ALSO: Black Grouse Diet and Size: Feeding Habits, Predators, and Measurements
Frequently Asked Questions
The average lifespan of a Red Grouse is around 2 to 3 years. However there have been individual birds that have survived to around 9 or even 10 years but these are rare.
The eggs of the Red Grouse are pale yellow and covered in dark brown blotches or spots. They are around 42 x 31 mm in size and weigh around 21.5 grams.
There are an estimated 250,000 pairs of Red Grouse in Great Britain with around 15,000 pairs in Ireland.
