Birds Guide

Grouse
Greater Sage-Grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia   Phylum: Chordata   Class: Aves   Order: Galliformes   Family: Tetraonidae Vigors, 1825
Genera
Tetrao Lagopus Falcipennis Centrocercus Bonasa Dendrapagus Tympanuchus

Grouse are from the order Galliformes which inhabit temperate and subarctic regions of the northern hemisphere. They are game and are sometimes hunted for food.

Males are often polygamous, and many species have elaborate courtship displays. These heavily built birds have legs feathered to the toes. Most species are year-round residents, and do not migrate.

These birds feed mainly on vegetable food, but will also feed on insects, especially when feeding young.

Species

• Siberian Grouse, Falcipennis falcipennis
  Spruce Grouse, Falcipennis canadensis
• Blue Grouse now split into two species:
  • Dusky Grouse, Dendragapus obscurus
    Sooty Grouse, Dendragapus fuliginosus
• Willow Grouse (Willow Ptarmigan in North America), Lagopus lagopus
  Ptarmigan (Rock Ptarmigan in North America), Lagopus mutus
  White-tailed Ptarmigan, Lagopus leucurus
  Eurasian Black Grouse, Tetrao tetrix
  Caucasian Black Grouse, Tetrao mlokosiewiczi
  Capercaillie, Tetrao urogallus
  Black-billed Capercaillie, Tetrao parvirostris
  Hazel Grouse, Bonasa bonasia
  Severtzov's Grouse, Bonasa sewerzowi
  Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa umbellus
  Greater Sage-Grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus
  Gunnison Sage-Grouse, Centrocercus minimus
  Sharp-tailed Grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus
• Greater Prairie-Chicken, Tympanuchus cupido
  • Heath Hen, T. c. cupido (extinct, 1932) - possibly a distinct species
• Lesser Prairie-Chicken Tympanuchus pallidicinctus

External links

• Grouse videos on the Internet Bird Collection