Western Capercaillie

(Tetrao urogallus)

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

Population size: 1 200 – 1 800 calling males

Distribution pattern

With patchy distribution in the conifer forests belt in some of the high mountains – the Western Rhodopes, Rila, Pirin and Slavyanka. There is no new data confirming the breeding of the species in Western Stara Planina. Some observations confirm presence of the species in the Vitosha Mountain, but probably they are stray birds.

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

Anthropophagic species, inhabiting old natural conifer forests (mainly of Pinus sylvestris) and mixed forests, and as an exception in broad-leaved deciduous forests (mainly of Fagus sylvatica).

Trends in population changes for the period 2013-2020

Not analysed

Threats

Not analysed