56 Baby Birds at Home 



The Willow Grouse is found where birch 

 and willow trees grow amongst heather and 

 juniper. In Norway it inhabits the moun- 

 tain sides above where the fir trees grow and 

 the capercaillie and black grouse live, and 

 below the bare ridges where the ptarmigan 

 is found. Unlike the red grouse, this species 

 generally roosts in trees. 



The nest of the Willow Grouse is made 

 on the ground amongst heather and juniper 

 bushes. It consists of a slight hollow very 

 scantily lined with small pieces of dead, dry 

 vegetation. 



The eggs are very similar in all respects 

 to those of the red grouse, and the chicks do 

 not differ in appearance. 



If you suddenly come upon a mother 

 Willow Grouse brooding her chicks she com- 

 mences to run round and round you, flapping 

 her wings as if injured and unable to fly. 

 This clever ruse is practised in order to 

 attract your attention and give her young 

 ones an opportunity of scattering and hiding 

 in the undergrowth. No sooner have they 

 done this than their mother mounts the air 

 and flies off. 



