black grouse

American  

noun

1. a large grouse, Lyrurus tetrix, of Europe and western Asia, the male of which is black, the female mottled gray and brown.

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black grouse British  

noun

1. Also called: black game.  a large N European grouse, Lyrurus tetrix , the male of which has a bluish-black plumage and lyre-shaped tail

2. a related and similar species, Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi , of W Asia

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Etymology

Origin of black grouse

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

It happened close to important breeding sites for threatened bird species such as curlews and black grouse.

From BBC • Sep. 11, 2025

The charity said many ground-nesting birds, including black grouse, had lost chicks or eggs in the incident near Cannich, south of Inverness.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2023

Lake Hlyboke, by far the most radioactive waterway in the world, is another “most contaminated” place, where I spotted a black grouse, a flock of partridges, and three roe deer during an hour’s visit.

From Slate • Jan. 21, 2013

I was too late to see the “lek,” as the black grouse mating dance is called.

From Washington Post

Its manners and habits are very like those of black grouse, except that it seems to be wholly confined to forests of pine, on the tender shoots of which it feeds.

From The Book of Household Management by Beeton, Mrs. (Isabella Mary)