Compared to its western cousin, the black-billed capercaillie is also more adaptable to open habitat, given the larch forests it lives in are usually less dense than other taiga communities.

A group of hens will carefully squat with drooping wings, while the lekking male is present to signal that they are ready for breeding.

During the winter months, when food is scarce, the black-billed capercaillie primarily feeds on twigs, shoots, and buds from various plant species, as well as the fruit of Rosa acicularis (commonly known as the prickly wild rose).

Since the male capercaillie are notably larger, they are unable to perch on branches smaller than 2 cm in diameter, so they tend to forage on the ground.

[4] As the snow begins to melt, the capercaillie shift their diet to include new green shoots and leaves, insects such as caterpillars, larvae, ants, and midges, as well as various berries.

This dietary shift, which lasts from spring to autumn, helps female capercaillie gain weight in preparation for reproduction.

Research conducted by the School of Nature Conservation in Beijing revealed a 35.25% reduction in the species' range in northeast China, since 1970.

[11][12] Many of these pressures are a result of China's growing human population, which has led to the expansion of urban areas and farms further north.