Overview
Spruce Grouse: Medium grouse with barred, dark gray-brown upperparts, black underparts show white bars on breast, white chevrons on sides, belly. Throat is white-bordered black; red eye combs. Tail is either black with fine white spots near base (Franklin's) or black with rufous-brown tip (Tiaga).
Range and Habitat
Spruce Grouse: Found in coniferous forests of extreme northern U.S., throughout boreal forests of Canada, and Alaska. Prefers dense pine forests of early to mid successional stages. Also found in spruce forests.
Topo Map:
Perching-like Body
Listen to Call
Voice Text
"whuh whuh whuh whuh", "cow cow cacacaca", "sreep", "heep"
Interesting Facts
The Spruce Grouse has great confidence in its camouflage, and will often stay still even when approached within a few feet. It is this characteristic that has earned them the nickname "Fool Hens".
During the winter months, however, they become very skittish due to a lack of camouflage; they take flight when approached within 20-150 feet.
In winter, when the bird must eat more food to maintain its mass and energy balance, the gizzard grows by about 75 percent, and other sections of the digestive tract increase in length by about 40 percent.
A group of grouse has many collective nouns, including a "chorus", "covey", "drumming", "grumbling", and "leash" of grouse.
Bird Term Glossary
Author
Ashli Maruster
Artist
Irina Rud-Volga
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