Ground-living birds (pheasants and their relatives)
Ground-living birds is what some people used to call ‘game birds’. But those who disagree with hunting think that this is a nicer term, as shooting birds is not a game. The ‘order’ actually also includes wild chickens and turkeys, all are visually striking birds that play important roles in ecosystems.
Pheasants however especially are now over-bred for the shooting industry. This leads to endangered sand lizards (their natural diet) and many road accidents, as they are let loose to be shot, and some escape or are injured and fly off elsewhere.
Heather is also burned for grouse shoots, which leads to flooding.
In nature, ground-living birds would not be too many, as foxes eat them (they also eat wild rabbits and rats). If foxes had their natural habitats (and natural food), they would be less likely to raid bins or hunt chicken coops – read more on keeping chickens safe from foxes).
Despite hunting being legal, all ground-living birds do have some protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. So birds must not ‘suffer unnecesssarily – such as remaining injured).
And must not be released in areas that could impact other wildlife – lead shot is also under a voluntary ban. Report concerns to National Wildlife Crime Unit (anonymous if preferred).
Pheasants (croaking Asian birds)
Pheasants have croaking calls and vivid plumage of shimmering green, gold and red (females are more brown to camouflage when nesting). They live in woodlands and field edges, and forage for seeds, grain and insects.
Grouse (show off like peacocks!)
Red grouse have reddish-brown feathers and live in heather uplands. Male grouse fan out their tails and strut their stuff (like peacocks). They have black tails and red ‘eyebrows’ and appear on ‘Famous Grouse’ whisky bottles.
Partridges (don’t live in pear trees!)
England has two species of partriges. Grey partridges have orange faces and black bellies and can lay 19 eggs at one time They live on arable farmland, though their decline in numbers is a conservation issue.
Red-legged partridges are from mainland Europe, with bright red beaks and pink-red legs. They have settled well in our open scrub and farmlands.
Woodcocks (shy and elusive)
Woodcocks are lovely little birds, with mottled brown feathers. They migrate from Scandinavia and Russia, and spend their days asleep in forests, and use their long beaks to forage.
Sadly they are still hunted, despite being Red (highly threatened) of conservation concern, leading to petitions to government to ban this.
Quails (fly to Africa for winter)
Quails breed in England in late spring, spending most time hidden in grass or cereal fields. They have dark and gold marks on brown bodies, and males have black throats.
Capercaillies (only found in Scotland)
These are critically endangered birds (now illegal to hunt) and almost became extinct. Their cousins (black grouse) fan out their tails in elaborate dances, to attract mates.
Around the size of turkeys, they have yellow bills and red marks above their eyes, although again females are more brown. They gather in woodland clearings and make strange gulping clicking noises, to compete for females. They are mostly found in pine forests, feeding on berries and tree buds and shoots.
Ptarmigans (only found in Scottish mountains)
Again, these birds are only found in Scotland (in mountains) and like mountain hares, turn white in winter, to disguise against predators. These plump little birds eat seeds, berries, nuts and leaves (juveniles also eat invertebrates).
