Wildlifeof China
Black-billed Capercaillie
Pheasants, Partridges & Quails
Photo: Tomju48 · CC BY-SA 3.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Tetrao urogalloides
Basic stats
Diet
Twigs, buds, leaves, shoots and berries; insects in warmer months
Habitat
Larch taiga forest
Range
Eastern Siberia and parts of northern Mongolia and China
Size
Males 89–97cm, females 69–75cm
Wingspan
75–115cm
Weight
Males 3.4–4.6kg, females 1.7–2.2kg
The black-billed capercaillie, also called the eastern, Siberian or spotted capercaillie, is a large grouse closely related to the more widespread western capercaillie. Males average 89–97cm long and weigh 3.4–4.6kg, and females measure 69–75cm and weigh 1.7–2.2kg. The wingspan is about 75–115cm. In the far west of its range it has hybridised with the western capercaillie (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is a sedentary species that breeds in the larch taiga forests of eastern Siberia and parts of northern Mongolia and China. It is primarily herbivorous, eating twigs, buds, leaves, shoots and berries, with some insects such as caterpillars, larvae, ants and midges in the warmer months (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What does the Black-billed Capercaillie eat?
- Twigs, buds, leaves, shoots and berries; insects in warmer months
- What habitat does the Black-billed Capercaillie live in?
- Larch taiga forest
- Where is the Black-billed Capercaillie found?
- Eastern Siberia and parts of northern Mongolia and China
- How big is the Black-billed Capercaillie?
- Males 89–97cm, females 69–75cm
- What is the wingspan of the Black-billed Capercaillie?
- 75–115cm
- How much does the Black-billed Capercaillie weigh?
- Males 3.4–4.6kg, females 1.7–2.2kg