59. Red Grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus)

I've decided to draw Red Grouse as it's the local race of Willow Grouse/Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus lagopus) that we get here in the UK. Willow Grouse is found throughout northern Europe, Siberia, northern Canada and Alaska. Red Grouse differs from Willow Grouse in that its plumage stays uniformly reddish brown all year round, whereas Willow Grouse's turns white in winter - and even in summer it retains its white wings and underparts.

Red Grouse, ©tarkamerl, via Flickr Creative Commons.

Red Grouse sketch.

Blargh, not too happy with this one. I've accidentally given it a tiny head, and bodged the plumage trying to do it quickly, that intricate patterning is quite hard to get right especially when you're pushed for time. Perhaps I should have drawn the Willow Grouse instead in its pure white winter plumage!