This is a brilliant naturalistic portrayal of a capercaillie (tetrao urogallus) flying around over grass and bushes on rocky terrain. In the background at the right is a snow-capped mountain. This is an excellent example of the veristic vein in painting devoted to nature in all its diversity, which was widespread in Western Europe from the middle of the 19th century onwards.

Since the painter died in 1862, this work is particularly interesting as an early example of this trend in painting.