Hazel Grouse

(Bonasa bonasia)

Category of conservation concern (IUCN, 2020) – Least Concern

Population size: 1 800 – 5 000 pairs

Distribution pattern

With patchy distribution mainly in the low and middle parts of Stara Planina (between Chuprene and Kotlenska Mountain), in the mountains Rila, Pirin, Western Rhodope, Vitosha, Osogovska Mountain, Belasitsa, Slavyanka. Unevenly distributed within the occupied territory, with a mosaic pattern up to the upper tree line.

Comparative distribution of the species compared to the first breeding birds atlas (Iankov, 2007): Breeding locality until 2007 | Breeding locality until 2007, confirmed after 2015 – | New breeding locality after 2015. – The breeding localities after 2015 are identified on a base of raw data from smartbirds.org.

Habitats

Breeds mainly in broad-leaved deciduous forests, mixed forests and old monotypic coniferous forests. From amongst the broad-leaved deciduous forests shows particular preference to: 1) old, sparse semi–mountainous and mountainous formations, dominated by Fagus sylvatica, with rich undergrowth, and 2) river bank broad-leaved vegetation with predominance of Salix sp., Alnus sp., Populus sp. From the mixed forests, favours old mixed forests of Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies, as well as mixed forests of Fagus sylvatica and Pinus sylvestris with rich undergrowth.

Trends in population changes for the period 2013-2020

Not analysed

Threats

Not analysed