Red Grouse in Dumfries and Galloway

Red GrouseThe red grouse is a game bird renowned for its hardiness and flying skills, it is unique to the UK. Living on heather moorland, it’s feathered feet help in snow conditions. Living upon heather shoots supplemented by fruit and shoots of cranberry.

Nesting in April and May one brood of four to nine eggs is hatched, sometimes after eggs have been severely frosted, which would kill most other eggs. Males display by leaping into the air, descending with neck stretched and tail fanned, their ‘go bak, go bak, bak, bak’ call challenging and warning off other males.

The large managed moorlands in the north and eastern end of the region offer the best opportunities to see grouse, but casual sightings from upland roads can happen.