Grouse ID in northern Michigan US (1 Viewer)

[SnailGeek]

This grouse has been hanging around my birdfeeder all winter. It's quite tame, barely moves when I go out to fill the feeder. After looking up some photos I don't think it's a ruffled grouse, which are common here, but rather a spruce grouse (female). My bird book shows them as being common in the Upper Peninsula with only one small area in lower Michigan to the east of where I'm at. I'm pretty sure that's what it is though. What do you think?

 

[RJP]

Yes, I would concur on female Spruce.

 

[nartreb]

How would you rule out female sharp-tailed grouse?

 

[RJP]

How would you rule out female sharp-tailed grouse?

Habitat is a helpful clue. Sharp-taileds prefer more open spaces, and this bird is sitting in a conifer. Beyond that, here are the marks I used to posit Spruce: rounded head with no crest, horizontal barring on the breast, no flank barring, no dark chevrons on the breast and flanks. (BTW, Sharp-taileds are not sexually dimorphic when not displaying.)

 

[SnailGeek]

Thanks for the feedback. Photo taken in a wooded subdivision, predominately pine. I added the photo to the gallery if that's okay.

 

[DarkFireFalcon]

Sorry, but this is actually a Ruffed Grouse. Not the dark patch below the neck (the ruff it's named for) and the buffy line of feathers going down the back, as well as the less distinct barring on the chest.

 

[DarkFireFalcon]

Also, as far as I can tell Spruce Grouse have been all but extirpated from the lower part of Michigan, and would be very unlikely in a sub-division..

 

[ovenbird43]

Sorry, but this is actually a Ruffed Grouse. Not the dark patch below the neck (the ruff it's named for) and the buffy line of feathers going down the back, as well as the less distinct barring on the chest.

Agree. Also the eye line apparent on this bird is good for Ruffed but not Spruce.

 

[SnailGeek]

Thanks for your input. I am more convinced of ruffed when I google photos online. The illustrations in my book were very misleading. This morning I also posted on a Michigan bird forum and the consensus there was ruffed also. They said spruces are quite rare in the lower peninsula, as mentioned here as well. They also said a ruffed will hang by bird feeders and hide in the conifers near houses when winters are harsh, as ours has been. Will try to get better photos of the body and tail to be sure.

 

[Reuven_M]

Definitely Ruffed Grouse