2021Europa - The Western Capercaillie - First Day Cover

The western capercaillie is a mysterious creature that dwells in our most precious forests. Although it is rarely seen in the wild, it is a well-known bird, there is probably no historical film that portrays an aristocratic hunt that does not include a shot of this bird. Bearded men in green, noblewomen in light coloured walking dresses, horses, colourful forests with tall spruce trees, raspberry and blueberry bushes, all accompanied by the mating call of the western capercaillie – an almost iconic image that hardly connects with our era. The opulent hunts of the aristocracy have long since vanished from our forests. Only the timid and modest western capercaillie has survived.