Birds
Western Capercaillie
Tetrao urogallus · Cocoș de munte
The largest grouse in the world, living in old conifer forests; males display at dawn in spring.
At a glance
- Status in Romania
- Resident
- Habitat
- Forest / Mountain
- Activity
- Morning
- Diet
- Conifer needles in winter; buds, berries and insects in summer.
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN)
- Photography difficulty
- Difficult
Identification
Males are very large, dark grey-black with a fanned tail and white bill; females are smaller and barred brown.
Habitat
Old, quiet conifer and mixed mountain forests with bilberry.
Approximate range in Romania
When it is active
Morning
Diet
Conifer needles in winter; buds, berries and insects in summer.
Behaviour
Males gather at display grounds (leks) at dawn in spring.
Seasonality in Romania
- JanPresent
- FebPresent
- MarPresent
- AprPresent
- MayPresent
- JunPresent
- JulPresent
- AugPresent
- SepPresent
- OctPresent
- NovPresent
- DecPresent
Existing monthly estimates are retained for reference, but have not yet been verified against a Romanian source and are excluded from seasonal filters. Unconfirmed months do not imply absence. * Event timing retained from the earlier entry, not yet source-verified.
How to find it
Only with local guides; display grounds are extremely sensitive.
Photography
General guidance based on the species’ behaviour, not a report of Nick’s personal field experience.
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Ethics
- Never visit display grounds without a guide; disturbance can cause birds to abandon them.
Practical starting points, not fixed rules.