The Blue Grouse was recently split into two species, the coastal Sooty Grouse Dendragapus fuliginosus and the interior Dusky Grouse Dendragapus obscurus. Details from the AOU, - Forty-seventh Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds.
Other Names: Blue Grouse, Mountain Grouse, Richardson's Grouse
Range: Rocky Mountains, from the southern Yukon and Northern British Columbia, south the Northern Arizona and western New Mexico.
Subspecies: D. o. richardsonii, D. o. obscurus, D. o. pallidus and D. o. oreinus.
Habitat: Montane forests and grasslands.
Brief Description: Male, Overall bluish-gray plumage with white mottling on back and breast; the air sacs on sides of neck pink to red surrounded by white feathers; comb above eye is yellow, turning to red during courtship; the tail is black with a gray terminal band (absent in some northern races). Female, Similar to male in general apperance, but being mostly brown with white mottling not as intense, much smaller combs above eyes. Both sexes with feathered tarsus and toes.
Status in Wild: Still considered to be fairly common throughout its range.
Avicultural Data
Status in Aviculture: Not commonly seen in collections.
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Photo Credits
(l to r): 1, Kenneth Bader; 2-4, Dan Synder.
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