Large bird ID

[Pierr]

Hi everyone,

can anyone help ID this bird?

I took the pic in Malingsbo, south of Sweden, in July. Sorry if it a bit blurred, it was a bit too far away for my compact camera. The bird was very very large. Much larger than a pheasant or than the average prey bird. I'm very ignorant about birds, maybe the ID is obvious ...

Cheers,
P.

 

[Retired Member southey]

looks like a capercaillie to me.

text from wiki:
The Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), also known as the Wood Grouse, Heather Cock (Scottish Gaelic: An Coileach-Fraoich) or Capercaillie is the largest member of the grouse family, reaching over 100 cm in length and 6.7 kg in weight. The largest one ever recorded in captivity had a weight of 7.2 kg. (15.9 lbs). Found across northern Europe and Asia, it is renowned for its mating display.

 

[Radix lecti]

Yes , beaten to it by Southey. cheers

 

[ged]

This sort of thing is handy:

http://www.surfbirds.com/ukbirdid.html

 

[Pierr]

Thanks! yes, looks like it. It was probably a large male.

 

[Retired Member southey]

Thats a great site Ged, cheers for posting it.

 

[oslodunc]

Watch yourself with these. They can get quite agressive. Over here at certain times of the year people go out to watch them court.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xSj5XcByuA

 

[Nagual]

Ach, was hoping to see one of these rare 'large' birds....

However I do like this one:

 

[pango]

Have you seen this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb1H_-S4Xjk

I had one drop onto my rucksac in a pinewood near Aviemore. Scared the living daylights out of me!

 

[robin wood]

Have you seen this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb1H_-S4Xjk

I bet the camera man was pleased with that one. You have to sit with the camera running a long time before that happens. Thanks for the link.

 

[Retired Member southey]

Those are some bad bottom birds! don't want to meet them out on a saturday night.