Black Grouse Conservation: Leks, Habitat and Recovery

Black grouse have declined dramatically across Britain but are showing recovery in well-managed upland habitats through targeted conservation.

Key Facts

UK black grouse population declined by 97% during the 20th century
Males perform spectacular communal displays called leks at traditional sites each spring
Black grouse require a mosaic of heather moorland, grassland and woodland edge habitat
Supplementary winter feeding at lek sites has helped maintain populations during food scarcity
Scotland holds the majority of the UK population with some recovery in upland England and Wales

Welfare Considerations

Black grouse welfare is linked to habitat quality at all life stages. Juveniles require insect-rich grassland in summer when protein needs are highest. Adults need heather for shelter, food and display habitat. Winter food scarcity causes significant mortality. Individual birds attending leks to breed face predation risk from raptors and foxes concentrated around predictable display sites. Conservation management that provides habitat diversity, winter food supplementation and controlled predation management directly improves individual welfare outcomes for black grouse.

What You Can Do

Support black grouse conservation projects in upland Britain
Advocate for agri-environment scheme funding targeting black grouse habitat creation
Participate in black grouse lek survey work each spring to support population monitoring
Encourage land managers to retain woodland edge and heathland mosaic beneficial to black grouse