A medium-sized grouse of Pacific Northwest mountains. Pacific counterpart to Dusky Grouse.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The sooty grouse is a species of forest-dwelling grouse native to North America's Pacific Coast Ranges. It is closely related to the dusky grouse, and the two were previously considered a single species, the blue grouse.
Source: Wikipedia — Sooty grouse Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Large sooty-gray grouse; displaying male shows yellow neck air sacs framed by white feathers and a yellow eye comb. Tail dark with a pale gray terminal band.
Similar species. Dusky Grouse (interior) is very similar; the two were formerly the 'Blue Grouse'. Sooty's neck sacs are yellow and it occupies coastal mountains.
Voice. Male gives a series of deep, resonant, far-carrying hoots, often delivered from high in a conifer.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Seeds, buds, fruits, insects.
Behavior. A large grouse of moist Pacific-coast mountain conifer forest; like its close relative it winters higher up, eating fir and hemlock needles. Males boom from trees.
§ Range
Pacific Northwest mountains
§ Habitat
Coniferous mountain forests
§ Threats
Forest loss, climate change.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the sooty grouse is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support Pacific Northwest forest conservation.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Sooty grouse
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Dendragapus fuliginosus
- IUCN Red List — search for Dendragapus fuliginosus
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Dendragapus fuliginosus
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
