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Sooty Grouse

Dendragapus fuliginosus
Sooty Grouse

A large bird species native to western North America, from Alaska to California. It is a member of the grouse family and is found in a variety of habitats, including coniferous forests, alpine tundra, and coastal areas. The male and female of the species look similar, with dark, slate-grey feathers and a distinctive black throat patch on the male.

Sam Crowe
Updated: March 22, 2023
Birds IDENTIFICATION

The mostly coastal form of the species once known as Blue Grouse, the Sooty Grouse was recently split from the Dusky Grouse, and is made up of four recognized subspecies.  Sooty Grouse do not occur on islands much more than one mile from shore, indicating the likely extent of their flying ability.

Among the many potential predators of Sooty Grouse, raptors may account for the largest share of mortality, with mammals next in line. Particularly long-lived individuals can survive for well over 10 years in the wild, and males are very likely to return to breeding territories year after year.

Length: 20 inches
Wing span: 26 inches

 

Description of the Sooty Grouse

BREEDING MALE

The Sooty Grouse is a sexually dimorphic, large grouse with a long tail.

Males are mostly dark gray, with a blackish tail tipped with silvery-gray, a yellow comb above the eye, and inflatable yellow neck sacs visible when displaying.

Sooty Grouse

Photograph © Glenn Bartley

Female

Females are mostly brownish with pale speckling.

Seasonal change in appearance

None.

Juvenile

Juveniles resemble adult females.

Habitat

Sooty Grouse inhabit deciduous and mixed forest to breed, and coniferous forests in winter.

Diet

Sooty Grouse eat conifer needles and leaves.

Behavior

Sooty Grouse forage on the ground in the summer, and in trees during winter.

Sooty Grouse

Female

Range

Sooty Grouse are resident in mountains along the west coast of Canada and the northern U.S. The population is declining.

Fun Facts

Sooty Grouse were formerly lumped with Dusky Grouse and called Blue Grouse.

Males have a dramatic courtship display involving a fanned tail, inflated air sacs, and strutting.

Vocalizations

The song consists of a single or repeated, loud hoot. Several clucks are given also.

Similar Species

  • Spruce Grouse have shorter tails. Dusky Grouse males have purplish air sacs and are slightly paler.

Nesting

The Sooty Grouse’s nest consists of a shallow scrape lined with needles and leaves, usually under cover of vegetation or a rock.

Number: Usually lay 5-10 eggs.
Color: Buffy with darker markings.

Incubation and fledging:
The young hatch at about 25-28 days, and leave the nest shortly after hatching, though associating with the adults for some time.

About the Author

Sam Crowe
Sam is the founder of Birdzilla.com. He has been birding for over 30 years and has a world list of over 2000 species. He has served as treasurer of the Texas Ornithological Society, Sanctuary Chair of Dallas Audubon, Editor of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's "All About Birds" web site and as a contributing editor for Birding Business magazine. Many of his photographs and videos can be found on the site.

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