The black-billed capercaillie, also known as the eastern capercaillie, Siberian capercaillie, spotted capercaillie or stone capercaillie, is a large grouse species closely related to the more widespread western capercaillie. It is a sedentary species that breeds in the larch taiga forests of eastern Siberia as well as parts of northern Mongolia and China. In the far west of its distribution, the black-billed capercaillie has been known to hybridize with the western capercaillie. Compared to its western cousin, the black-billed capercaillie is also more adaptable to open habitat, given the larch forests it lives in are usually less dense than other taiga communities. Thus, they tend to avoid thick coniferous forests. They are primarily herbivorous, feeding on twigs, buds, leaves, shoots, and berries of various plants. However, their diet in the warmer months includes some insects like caterpillars, larvae, ants and midges.
Region
Siberia and Northeast Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs across eastern Siberia through the larch-dominated taiga, extending into northern Mongolia and northeastern China. It favors open or patchy larch stands, forest edges, boggy valleys, and riverine woodland mosaics. In winter it often uses mature larch and pine for roosting and foraging, including snow roosts during severe cold. It generally avoids dense, closed-canopy spruce–fir forests.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Continental
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the eastern or Siberian capercaillie, this large grouse favors open larch taiga and often avoids the denser conifer forests preferred by its western cousin. Males perform dramatic spring displays on traditional leks, fanning the tail and producing a series of popping and wheezing notes. In areas of contact, it can hybridize with the western capercaillie. Its black bill is a key feature distinguishing it from the pale-billed western species.
Female
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats followed by brief glides
Social Behavior
Outside the breeding season it is mostly solitary or in small loose groups, especially females with young. Males gather on leks in spring where they defend display posts and attempt to attract multiple females. Nests are shallow ground scrapes hidden under shrubs or at the base of trees, with clutches typically of several eggs.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
The male’s display song is a distinctive sequence of sharp clicks and popping notes that accelerate into a wheezing finale. Calls are usually subdued outside the lek, with soft clucks and croaks used for contact.
