Red Grouse - "Broken Wing"

[Hantswalker]

Seen en route to Beinn a' Bhuird - hen and cock showing incredible bravery as the chicks dispersed.


[Broken Wing by Hantswalker, on Flickr][/img]

[Dad Joins In by Hantswalker, on Flickr][/img]

[Martin 282]

Hi, It looks like "distraction display" where adult birds pretend to be injured to distract predators from their young. Once the predator moves away the birds get on with life. In this case passing the time until some nice "sportsman" comes along & blasts them apart with his big gun. This makes the "sportsman" feel good having destroyed a beautiful creature & makes up for his small anatomical parts.
Martin.

[Hantswalker]

I've seen dotterel do broken wing distraction quite a lot - they tend to make a fuss from a short distance and try to get you moving towards them. The grouse were different in that the hen came up very close, aggressively even. Her job was to get me moving. Meanwhile the cock made a fuss in the direction they wanted me to go - great double act. Once moving they both move me along and after about 50m went off to collect their chicks.

A couple of days later the same happened with ptarmigan. Their strategy was a bit different and not nearly so aggressive. Hen and cock worked together but at a bit more of a distance. After about 100m the hen went off to collect the chicks but the cock carried on for a good 300m before wheeling off with that signature guttural call.

[Martin 282]

I must go around with my eyes closed. Ive seen few dotterel & never seen a grouse do this. I better become more observant. Good spots.

[spiderwebb]

Saw this a few times, on the Cairngorms a few weeks back but Ptarmigan.

Grouse yesterday but no injured display, the sit tight and he won't see us approach, and I probably wouldnt have except I nearly stood on them.

[Hantswalker]

I used to live in the Peak District. I could see the heather moors from my kitchen window. I saw red grouse every day but never saw the broken wing display.