Black grouse are declining upland birds dependent on diverse habitats including birch woodland, bog, and heather moorland for their complex lifecycle.
Black grouse welfare depends on a mosaic of habitats across large landscapes that are increasingly fragmented. Disturbance of lek sites — particularly by walkers, dogs, and photographers — during the spring display season disrupts breeding and causes physiological stress responses in displaying males. Young chicks require insect-rich vegetation in their first weeks of life, making habitat diversity critical for chick survival. Conservation programs that combine habitat management with predator control and lek protection have demonstrated the ability to reverse population declines, and the welfare of individuals improves alongside population recovery.