Wild Turkey in the UK

The nearest thing to a wild turkey in the UK is the Capercaillie, found mainly in the central north east of Scotland

Actually a member of the Grouse family or Tetraonidae with the Latin name Tetrao urogallus. With a recent census population of less than 2,000 birds!

The 'wild turkey in the UK' is the huge woodgrouse AKA the Capercaillie. The large black looking males are unmistakable. They are actually shades of dark green (chest), dark navy blue (back and neck), dark brown (upper wing). With a turkey like tail and chest bars. Capercaillie spend a lot of time searching for berries, shoots and tender stems on the ground, but they may also be seen in trees, where they feed mainly on tender shoots.

The Scottish Capercaillie population has declined so far now that it is at very real risk of extinction and is on the RSPB 'Red List'.

Confined to Scottish native pinewood, a rare and diminishing habitat, and commercial conifer plantations are the favoured breeding grounds for Capercaillie / wood grouse.

Occasionally Capercaillie can be seen, all year round, from hides at RSPB Abernethy Forest, Loch Garten nature reserve in the Cairngorms MAP

Landranger grid: NH982185.