The Black Grouse

A species that is particularly sensitive to human disturbance, the black grouse finds refuge for the winter in the northern valleys, enabling it to conserve its energy by reducing its physical activity. A fierce bird and an icon of mountain wildlife, the black grouse takes its name from the shape of its tail feathers, which are curved in the shape of a lyre!
Males, or roosters, have blue-black plumage all year round. The hen, who raises the chicks alone, has a less flamboyant reddish-brown plumage, enabling her to blend into the landscape and protect herself from predators. This ability to go unnoticed in their natural environment is known as homochromy.