Located in the heart of northern Scotland, Cairngorms National Park has earned abundant acclaim for its spectacular natural beauty, equipped with 4,528 square kilometers of rocky terrain to explore—and this sprawling reserve is home to a lot more than just craggy cliffs. The region's three rivers serve as a crucial haven for both resident and migratory bird species, with great spotted woodpeckers, rock ptarmigans, and golden eagles being just a few species that might make an appearance for visiting birders. Yet when it comes to sheer size, few birds can match the might of the capercaillie.

Measuring in at roughly four kilograms on average, these imposing birds are the largest living member of the grouse family, with the most massive males boasting a wingspan of just over 100 centimeters. While the birds are renowned for their size, they've earned additional acclaim for their elaborate mating displays as well. Displaying a large degree of sexual dimorphism, male capercaillie spend their breeding season atop a lek in hopes of impressing females, turning their beaks skyward and unleashing a medley of clicks and pops from roughly April to August—and in spite of their visual splendor, these majestic birds have been subject to immense difficulties in recent years.

"In the UK capercaillie are—and have been—vulnerable to a number of complex threats, including lack of suitable habitat; low productivity, predator activity; disturbance by humans and dogs; and collisions with unmarked fences," says Jocasta Mann, Communications Officer at the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project. Though the birds are plagued by a plethora of issues in the modern day, Mann notes that capercaillie hunting was outlawed in 1981 thanks to the Wildlife and Countryside Act, providing the species with some much-needed relief from human predation.

While there are close to 550 capercaillie living in the United Kingdom today, Cairngorms National Park harbors more than 85% of the entire population—and fortunately, the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project is hard at work to preserve the future of these dazzling birds. Cooperating closely with local land supervisors and volunteers, the organization has implemented management programs to create optimal habitat for the birds and other Scottish wildlife, while thorough genetic studies are taking place across the Cairngorms population to provide valuable information for future conservation efforts.

Whether you're a lifelong local or just paying a visit to the northern reaches of Scotland, there are multiple ways to ensure that you're doing your part in keeping the species safe from further harm. In addition to keeping dogs close and refraining from wandering off hiking and cycling trails, Mann and organizations like Lek It Be both stress the importance of providing the birds with plenty of space. Finding a suitable mate and rearing young are two particularly taxing activities, so human interference can cause the birds to waste precious time and energy that's otherwise dedicated to producing future generations. As an alternative, Mann recommends tuning into the Abernethy Nature Centre's RSPB Caper Cam to get your capercaillie viewing in.

From the great auk to the brown bear, Great Britain has lost a massive array of species over the millennia due to human-animal conflict—yet fortunately, the capercaillie has so far evaded a similar fate. Thanks to efforts by organizations like the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project, these fascinating creatures can take to their leks in peace today, free from the perils of humans and their canine companions. Though populations aren't quite as high as they once were across the Cairngorms, the complex call of the capercaillie continues to ring out with each passing year, and with any luck, these dazzling birds will continue their annual dance well into the distant future.