Grouse | The grouse is a heavily-built bird that is found in the cold, forested areas of the Northern Hemisphere. The grouse is most closely related to other game birds including chickens, peasants and turkeys and, although not commonly farmed commercially,
the grouse is hunted by humans in its natural habitat. The grouse
inhabits both hot and cold environments, and can be found in a variety
of habitats like forests, moorland, shrub-land and close to rural farms.
In order to survive the bitter Northern winters, the grouse has feathered legs and toes which not only help to keep the grouse warm,
but they also give the grouse more grip and stability when it is
walking around in the snow. Despite inhabiting areas that often fall
within the Arctic Circle, thousands of grouse are hunted as game each year by humans. The grouse population numbers
are not drastically effected however as they often lay a large number
of eggs so the grouse population is able to increase at a fast rate.
The grouse is an omnivorous animal
meaning that it eats both plants and other animals. Despite this
though, plant matter makes up the majority of the grouse's diet as the
grouse eats grasses, fruits, nuts, berries, shoots, seeds and flowers,
along with insects and even rodents. Due to its stocky build and the
fact that the grouse is one of the few animals able to exist within the
Arctic Circle, that grouse is preyed upon by a number of native
predators. Wildcats including lynx, foxes, wolves and large birds
of prey all prey upon the grouse, alongside human hunters. Female
grouse nests in a dip in the ground, following an elaborate mating display by the male grouse. The female grouse can lay up to 12 eggs at a time which hatch after a month of incubation.
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