Tetrao mlokosiewiczi Taczanowski, 1875
Text, map and photo from
Storch I. (2000) : Grouse Action Plan 2000-2004,
reproduced here with the Editor's agreement.
Synonyms:
Lyrurus
mlokosiewiczi
Common
names:
Kovkasian
mayrehav
Armenian
Caucasian black
grouse
English
Tétras du
Caucase
French
Rotcho
Georgian
Kaukasusbirkhuhn
German
Kawkasskij
teterev
Russian
Gallo-lira
caucasiano
Spanish
Dag horozu
Turkish
Photo: a male, by Siegfried
Klaus 
Conservation Status
IUCN 1996: Lower risk (near
threatened)*.
CITES 1998: not listed in Appendices.
Red Data Book of European Vertebrates 1997: Insufficiently
known.
National red data books: listed in all range countries.
*BirdLife International propose to list the species as "Data Deficient" instead of "Near Threatened" in the next update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals because of a lack of recent data on population numbers and threats for the majority of the range (A. Stattersfield, pers. comm.).
Taxonomy
Monotypic; no subspecies recognised (del Hoyo et al. 1994).
Distribution
Endemic to the Caucasus. Between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea in the Great and Little Caucasus mountains in Russia, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan and south into northeastern Turkey and northwestern Iran; the major part of the range is in Russia and Georgia. The species has the smallest distribution of all grouse (Kutubidze 1961, Potapov and Flint 1989, Flint 1995, Baskaya 1997, Adamian and Klem 1999).
Population size and trend
Population size and trend are insufficiently known. The Red Data Book of European Vertebrates (Council of Europe 1997) mentioned a total population size of 75,000 birds, others estimate between 10-50,000 (A. Gavashelishvili pers. comm) or between 30-100,000 birds (S. Klaus pers. comm). The species probably has been declining at least since the 1980s and has disappeared from some mountains at the limits of the range. In undisturbed areas such as the 800km_ Teberda state reserve in Russia, 1.5 birds per km_ have been estimated based on lek counts (Klaus et al. 1990a,b); but local spring densities reached up to 3.8 birds/km_ (Vitovich 1986).
Habitat and ecology
Caucasian black grouse inhabit treeline habitats of the transition zone between the upper mountain forests and subalpine meadows at 1500-3000 m altitude. The major items in the winter diet are birch Betula buds and catkins, juniper Juniperus fruits and needles, shoots of willows Salix and Vaccinium and Rhododendron shrubs, and rosehips Rosa. From spring to autumn, the diet diversifies according to availability of buds, leaves, and fruits of a wide variety of herbs, grasses, and shrubs, and also insects. The Caucasian black grouse is a typical lek-breeding species with traditional display grounds in open habitats somewhat above treeline. Whereas alpine pastures used for livestock grazing have negative effects on Caucasian black grouse habitats, meadows for hay production, from which livestock are carefully excluded, form "reserves" with great importance for reproduction (see Kutubidze 1961, Vitovich 1986, Klaus et al. 1990a,b, Baskaya 1997).
Hunting and cultural importance
Traditionally, hunting of Caucasian black grouse has never played an important cultural or economic role. Since the 1980s, however, illegal sport hunting has developed into a serious threat, particularly in the little Caucasus.
Principal threats
Habitat degradation. Cattle grazing and shepherding have increased throughout the range and led to vegetational changes and erosion in summer habitats of Caucasian black grouse. In many areas, livestock is brought up the mountains at the beginning of the lekking and incubation period. In spring, cattle preferably use the areas adjacent to the treeline, where leks and brood habitats are located. Serious effects on reproduction of Caucasian black grouse due to habitat changes, disturbance, and trampling are likely.
Predation by dogs. Feral dogs, which have become numerous, particularly in the vicinity of larger cities and tourist resorts, and the many shepherd-dogs are believed to cause considerable losses among nests, chicks, and adult birds.
Exploitation. Since the 1980s illegal sport hunting has developed into a serious threat, particularly in the little Caucasus.
Small population size. Due to its treeline habitats, the species is patchily distributed and has always occurred in distinct local populations. Habitat loss may interrupt their contact. Small and isolated populations are generally vulnerable and show a high risk of extinction due to chance demographic or environmental events, and the loss of genetic heterogeneity (Westemeier et al. 1998; see 2.6.2). The disjunct spatial distribution of the species may strongly affect its viability.
Research needs
Surveys. Thorough surveys should be launched to clarify the distribution, population size and trend, and status of the species throughout the range, and especially in its southern parts.
Habitat relationships. Ecological field studies are needed to understand better the habitat-relationships of the species and the effects of human land use on population dynamics and trends.
Parasitology. Georgian birds have long been reported to host quite a number of intestine parasites (helminths). These parasites may lead to reduced survival of Caucasian black grouse and are probably distributed by domestic sheep and cattle. However, the numbers of helminths have also increased in wild ungulates (A. Gavashelishvili, pers. comm.).
Current conservation measures
Legal protection. The species is totally protected throughout its range. Still there is at least locally intense hunting pressure. Better law enforcement is needed.
Protected areas. There are several protected areas in the species´ range in Turkey (Artvin-Savsat-Balikli and Maden Wildlife Protection Areas), Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Russia. In total, an estimated 20-25% of the total range is within nature reserves (Russia 15-20%; Armenia 1-2%, Azerbaijan 1-2% (A. Solokha, pers. comm), and Georgia 3-4% (A. Gavashelishvili pers. comm.), Turkey 1% (S. Baskaya pers. comm.). In all range countries, well-managed reserves are considered to be critical for the survival of the species; their present effectiveness is believed to be moderate in Russia and Georgia and low in the other countries. Due to the large size of these reserves, the species is probably relatively well protected in the Russian state reserves (zapovedniki) (S. Klaus, pers. comm). In Georgia, an extended network of national parks is presently under way (A. Gavashelishvili pers. comm). The new system will extend the existing reserves. So far, Borjomi National Park in the Lesser Caucasus has been established (supported by WWF-Germany and the Georgian government), and another one is being set up in the eastern part of the Greater Caucasus (supported by The World Bank/GEF via the Ministry of Environment of Georgia, having Georgian conservation NGOs as subcontractors including the Georgian Center for the Conservation of Wildlife - GCCW). Plans for further parks exist and are waiting for implementation (A. Gavashelishvili pers. comm).
Surveys and monitoring. Some irregular surveys in limited areas have been reported from different parts of the range.
Habitat preservation. Measures to preserve or improve the habitat have been reported from all parts of the range but are almost completely restricted to the existing protected areas.
Priority conservation measures
The Caucasian black grouse is listed as a globally near threatened species. Therefore, its conservation has high priority. Here, a short summary of recommended conservation measures is given. Recommendations for research and conservation priorities for the Caucasian black grouse are described in greater detail in Chapter 4.
Population surveys. The Caucasian black grouse is limited in its distribution, and its range is highly fragmented. A series of surveys is recommended to establish the distribution and conservation status of Caucasian black grouse and its habitats and to identify concrete threats and conservation needs.
Management plans. After the distribution, population status, threats, and conservation needs have been identified, management plans should be developed and implemented throughout the range, preferably in cooperation between the range countries.
Habitat preservation. Caucasian black grouse habitat needs to be preserved at least seasonally from disturbance and degradation by cattle, burning for pasture mitigation, and locally perhaps also from recreation. Lekking areas should be free from any grazing throughout the species' range. Grazing should be controlled in the subalpine zone (especially patches of Rhododendron and birch on the slopes). Habitat preservation must be a major aim of any management plan for the species.
Control of illegal hunting. Field studies are needed to assess the role of poaching in population dynamics in parts of the range, especially in Armenia, in order to develop measures and approaches to control poaching.
Protected areas. New reserves for Caucasian black grouse have been proposed for Armenia, particularly for the southeastern parts of the Zangezur Range near Kadgaran and Megri, 200-250km southeast of Yerevan, near the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Conservation education and ecotourism. In parts of the range of the Caucasian black grouse, particularly in Armenia, education regarding its status and threats are considered an important approach to reduce human pressure on the species (poaching) and its habitats (shepherding). Measures may include reports in the mass media, the production of posters and other information materials, and the development of eco-tourism for bird watchers.
Correspondents
Martin S. Adamian, Sagdan Baskaya, Alexander Gavashelishvili, Siegfried Klaus, Alexander Solokha, Peter Saenger
Key publications
Baskaya, S. 1997. Dag Horozu (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi). Dostlar Rasgele, 22-23.
Klaus, S., Bergmann, H.-H., Marti, C., Müller, F., Vitovic, O. A., and Wiesner, J. 1990. Die Birkhühner. Die Neue Brehm-Bücherei. Westarp Wissenschaften, Magdeburg, Germany.
Kutubidze, M. 1961. Ecology and distribution of Caucasian black grouse within Georgia. Proceedings Institute of Zoology, Academy of Sciences of Georgia, Vol. XVIII. pp. 4-40. (in Georgian).
Vitovich, O.A. 1986. Ökologie des Kaukasischen Birkhuhns. Trudy Teberd. Gos. Zapov. 10:165-309 (in Russian).