Severtzov's Grouse

About the Severtzov's Grouse

The Chinese grouse (Tetrastes sewerzowi), also known as Severtzov's grouse, is the smallest grouse in the world. The species was first discovered and described by Przewalski in 1876. It is endemic to China, where it is considered endangered by the China Red Data Book.

The bird is named after a Russian explorer and naturalist, Nikolai Alekseevich Severtzov. The females have an average mass between 270–407 g (9.5–14.4 oz), and the males between 279–390 g (9.8–13.8 oz). The average body length is 327–384 mm (12.9–15.1 in) for females and 355–403 mm (14.0–15.9 in) for males, making it the smallest of the grouse species.

Chinese grouse are mostly brown, with lots of white and black patterning on their bellies. The males have a black chin patch, while females do not. Chinese grouse look similar to hazel grouse (Tetrastes bonasia), with a few differences in plumage colouration and pattern. Both males and females have a red comb above their eyes, though it is more prominent in the males.

All grouse are in the family Phasianidae, which also includes pheasants and turkeys. Different sources place the Chinese grouse into either the Tetrastes genus along with the... Wikipedia →