Spruce Grouse

The spruce grouse (Falcipennis canadensis) is the smallest of three species of North American forest grouse; the blue grouse, ruffed grouse and spruce grouse). Adults weight approximately one pound (450-550g) and are about 16 inches (40 cm) long. Males have black and white horizontal markings on their chests and a distinctive scarlet eye comb. Female spruce grouse also have a red eye comb, however this may be difficult to see at a distance. Females appear brownish overall, with black, brown and white intermixed throughout their breasts. From the back, both males and females appear as a slaty gray. A diagnostic characteristic of the spruce grouse is its chestnut colored terminal tail band, present in both males and females.

When a male courts a female, he will fill his eye combs with blood until they appear like small scarlet sausages riding above each eye. He will then strut around on the ground with his wings held low and neck feathers flared like a cobra. He swishes his tail from side to side as he walks, with the grand finale being a rapid tail flick. With this tail flick, he simultaneously fans his tail and pokes his head upward. This sequence is often repeated in a low branch of a nearby tree. Sometimes a male will fly back and forth from the ground to a tree performing this ritual in a manner that almost seems like he cannot decide where he appears more attractive.

The spruce grouse is distributed across North America in a manner that generally conforms to the extent of the boreal forest biome. At the southeastern extent of the species’ range, breeding populations occur in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota. In New York, Vermont and some areas of Maine, the species is restricted to lowland coniferous forests dominated by spruce, tamarack and balsam fir. In New York the species occurs as small isolated populations located exclusively within the northwestern section of the Adirondack Park. These isolated populations are generally found at fringes of bogs and adjacent to rivers and are almost always associated with peatlands.

The species has been declining in NY since the 1970s, likely a result of the loss of quality habitat due to the maturation of coniferous forests. The isolation of quality habitat is also a factor in the species decline. Today, there are less than 150 adult spruce grouse in the state. To help maintain viable populations, officials may have to manage the forest for younger stands with more understory vegetation, which will likely include harvesting small blocks of forest. Maintaining the boreal ecosystem will also help maintain populations of other boreal forest associates such as the gray jay, boreal chickadee, rusty blackbird, American three-toed woodpecker and others.

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