Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A large grouse (Tetrao urogallus), native to northern Europe and having dark plumage and a fanlike tail.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The Scotch name for the wood-grouse, Tetrao urogallus, the largest of the gallinaceous birds of Europe, the male sometimes weighing 12 to 13 pounds.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A large, black grouse of the genus Tetrao in the bird family Phasianidae, especially the western capercaillie, Tetrao urogallus.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun large black Old World grouse

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Scottish Gaelic capull coille : capull, horse (from Middle Irish capall, from Old Irish, ultimately from Latin caballus, of Celtic origin) + coille, genitive of coille, forest (from Old Irish caill).]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

A Scots corruption of Scottish Gaelic capull coille ("horse of the woods").

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Examples

  • The Alps are one of the last strongholds for the central European population of the threatened capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), which consists of increasingly isolated populations.

    Alps conifer and mixed forests 2009

  • This affects especially ptarmigans, capercaillie, and ground birds.

    Sapmi~ the communities of Purnumukka, Ochejohka, and Nuorgam climate change case study 2009

  • The area is faunistically rich, including European brown bear Ursus arctos, wolf Canis lupus, European otter Lutra lutra, wild cat Felis silvestris, eagle owl Bubo bubo, and capercaillie Tetra urogallus.

    Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia 2008

  • These include the capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) and the ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus).

    Pyrenees conifer and mixed forests 2008

  • On the other hand the upper reaches of the river that are covered by larch, dark coniferous and stone birch forests, provide refuge for capercaillie Tetrao parvirostris and Siberian spruce grouse Falcipennis falcipennis*.

    Central Sikhote-Alin, Russian Federation 2008

  • Birds include species of swan goose Anser cygnoides, crested honey buzzard Pernis ptilorhyncus, black kite Milvus migrans, hawk owl Sunia ulula, rock ptarmigan Lagopus mutus, hazel grouse Tetrastes bonasia, capercaillie Tetrao urogallus and great bustard Otis tarda.

    Lake Baikal Basin, Russian Federation 2008

  • Other Cantabric species that seasonally spread into this ecoregion are the Cantabrian chamois (Rupicapra parva) and the highly endangered capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus).

    Northwest Iberian montane forests 2008

  • Forest fauna include brown bear Ursus arctos, grey wolf Canis lupus, wild boar Sus scrofa, wild cat Felis silvestris, chamois Rupicapra rupicapra, various species of eagle, capercaillie Tetrao urogallus, black grouse Lyrurus tetrix and rock partridge Alectoris graeca.

    Durmitor National Park, Montenegro 2008

  • The 204 bird species include capercaillie Tetrao urogallus, black grouse Lyrurus tetrix, willow grouse Lagopus lagopus, hazel grouse Tetrastes bonasia, black woodpecker Dryocopus martius, three-toed woodpecker Picoides tridactylus, nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes and red-flanked bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus.

    Virgin Komi Forests, Russian Federation 2008

  • Large carnivores such as brown bear and wolf have persisted here along with several rare birds including the capercaillie, griffon vulture, and black woodpecker.

    Cantabrian mixed forests 2008

Comments

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  • Dude. I didn't know this was a bird. I thought it was just a band.

    February 23, 2008

  • Wordie. The things you learn.

    Do the band guys have snazzy red eyebrows like this?

    February 23, 2008

  • No. Is that bird's name Richard Bartz? That's a weird name for a bird.

    February 23, 2008

  • I don't see why it's weirder than any other name, cb.

    February 23, 2008

  • Sure, sure; that's its name. It goes by "Rick," though. Laid-back kind of avian, you know.

    February 24, 2008

  • You're right, yarb. I guess I meant it's a weird name for a species. I have no problem with calling a bird Richard Bartz. Or even Rick, if he/she prefers. But if that were the name on the safari card for that bird, I must admit I'd be deeply intrigued.

    February 24, 2008

  • Apparently the species name (not Latin) comes from the Gaelic capull coille, meaning "horse of the woods."

    Not to be confused with capicola, which means "tasty luncheon meat."

    February 25, 2008

  • Yes. And another way to tell them apart is that capicola does not have snazzy red eyebrows.

    At least, if it did, I wouldn't eat it.

    February 25, 2008

  • I concur. As a general rule, I never eat anything that has snazzy red eyebrows. Too haughty-tasting.

    February 25, 2008

  • So you would never eat a clown, either?

    I don't blame you; I've heard they taste funny.

    (thanks Tommy Cooper)

    February 26, 2008

  • Now there's a dad joke if I've ever heard one!

    February 26, 2008

  • HA HA HA!! Good one!

    You know, that reminds me. I've been meaning to add clown to a list of mine... *goes off to do this*

    February 26, 2008