Falcipennis

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Falcipennis
Male Spruce Grouse (F. canadensis)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Galliformes Family: Tetraonidae Genus: Falcipennis Elliot, 1864
Species
Falcipennis falcipennis Falcipennis canadensis

Falcipennis is a genus of birds in the grouse family that comprises two very similar species:

• Siberian Grouse, Falcipennis falcipennis
• Spruce Grouse, Falcipennis canadensis

Both inhabit northern coniferous forests and live on conifer needles during the winter. Both have breeding systems with dispersed male territories, intermediate between the leks of some grouse and the monogamy of others (Storch and Bendell 2003).

[edit] Etymology

Falcipennis means "sickle-winged" in New Latin; the wings are swept back in flight (Holloway 2003).

[edit] References

• Holloway, Joel Ellis (2003). Dictionary of Birds of the United States: Scientific and Common Names. Timber Press, 94. ISBN 0-88192-600-0. 
• Peterson, Alan P. (Editor). 1999. Zoological Nomenclature Resource (Zoonomen). Accessed 2007-08-01.
• Storch, Ilse; Bendell, J. F. (2003). "Grouse", in Christopher Perrins (Ed.): Firefly Encyclopedia of Birds. Firefly Books, 184–187. ISBN 1-55297-777-3.