Grouse
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 Male Greater Sage-grouse
Centrocercus urophasianus |
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Bonasa |
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Tetraonidae Vigors, 1825 |
Grouse are a group of birds from the order Galliformes. Often considered a family Tetraonidae, the American Ornithologists' Union and many others include grouse as a subfamily Tetraoninae in the family Phasianidae. Grouse inhabit temperate and subarctic regions of the northern hemisphere. Most species are year-round residents, and do not migrate.
These birds feed mainly on vegetation, but also on insects, especially when feeding young. Several of the forest-living species are notable for eating large quantities of conifer needles, which most other vertebrates refuse. In all but one species (the Willow Grouse, called Willow Ptarmigan in America), males are polygamous, and many species have elaborate courtship displays. These heavily built birds have legs feathered to the toes.
They are game and are sometimes hunted for food. Though they are related at least as closely to chicken as to any other gamebird and look somewhat like chicken, especially the conifer-eating species taste remarkably unlike chicken.
[edit] Species
Genus Falcipennis
- Siberian Grouse, Falcipennis falcipennis
- Spruce Grouse, Falcipennis canadensis - probably distinct genus Canachites
- Franklin's Grouse, Falcipennis (canadensis) franklinii
Genus Dendragapus - blue grouse
- Dusky Grouse, Dendragapus obscurus
- Sooty Grouse, Dendragapus fuliginosus
Genus Lagopus - ptarmigans
- Willow Grouse or Willow Ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus
- Red Grouse Lagopus (lagopus) scoticus
- Ptarmigan or Rock Ptarmigan, Lagopus mutus
- White-tailed Ptarmigan, Lagopus leucura
Genus Tetrao - black grouse
- Eurasian Black Grouse, Tetrao tetrix
- Caucasian Black Grouse, Tetrao mlokosiewiczi
- Capercaillie, Tetrao urogallus
- Black-billed Capercaillie, Tetrao parvirostris
Genus Bonasa
- Hazel Grouse, Bonasa bonasia
- Severtzov's Grouse, Bonasa sewerzowi
- Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa umbellus
Genus Centrocercus - sage-grouse
- Greater Sage-grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus
- Gunnison Sage-grouse, Centrocercus minimus
Genus Tympanuchus - prairie grouse
- Sharp-tailed Grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus
- Greater Prairie Chicken, Tympanuchus cupido
- Lesser Prairie Chicken Tympanuchus pallidicinctus
[edit] External links
- Grouse videos on the Internet Bird Collection
