The wild grouse in the Norwegian mountains are a popular sight to be seen. Since I was a kid and my family went for our first skiing or hiking sessions in the mountains, we've always paused to observe these birds in nature whenever we saw or heard them.
Like other animals living in areas with long winter seasons, they change color throughout the year to adapt to their surroundings. Now during winter, they'll be snow-white, whilst during summer they'll be more brown and gray. Combine this with their extreme sensitivity to human presence, and you can understand why they're not that commonly seen.
My favorite shot of the two mating Norwegian wild grouses seen during our skiing trip yesterday. Picture taken with my Huawei P30 Pro
Being that sensitive to human presence, getting up close is very difficult. I was therefore really happy to be able to catch these shots with my phone standing on my skies during our trip yesterday.
The couple appeared to be doing their little mating rituals, judging by the characteristic "curr curr" noises they were making, as well as the way they were flying together really close while circling one another. So as if seeing them wasn't cool enough, being able to observe that from a medium distance added to the experience.
Two more shots that I liked. Pictures taken with my Huawei P30 Pro
For many reasons, the grouse is a popular target for hunting, and has even been the sole source of income for people who lived in these regions a few decades ago. Considering how well they blend into the terrain, being quite sizable, and hard to approach, you can understand why they make for good sports! (Although I personally prefer they be left alone).
In any case, the wild grouse make up some of the unique and popular wildlife here in south-west Norway, and is an animal you will likely see a lot of if you visit a souvenir shop or cabin anywhere in the region.
What unique birds are popular and unique in the places where you live?
Fredrik