Hazel grouse

The hazel grouse, often known as the hazel hen, is a small bird from the grouse family found across the Palearctic region. These birds prefer to breed in dense, damp, mixed coniferous woodlands. They are relatively small, measuring about 35–39 cm in length, with grey upperparts, brown wings, and chestnut-flecked white underparts. Males are distinguished by a short crest and a white-bordered black throat, while females have a shorter crest and lack the black throat marking. When in flight, they display a black-tipped grey tail.

Male hazel grouse emit a high-pitched "ti-ti-ti-ti-ti" call, whereas females produce a liquid "tettettettettet" sound. Due to their shyness and preference for dense woodlands, you might only notice them by these calls or the sound of their wings as they take flight. On the ground, they primarily feed on plant matter, but during the breeding season, they also consume insects.

During the breeding season, the female lays a clutch of 3–6 eggs in a nest on the ground. She is solely responsible for incubating the eggs and caring for the chicks, a common trait among gamebirds.