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Field Guide for all the Birds of North America

Grouses

Tétras

Phasianidae

Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities

North American Bird Search Box

The grouse are among the upland game birds that are seen in the savannah and forests of North America. These birds can be found on the edges of the woods or even in the alpine above the treelines of taller mountains, in the warmer months. They have the ability to avoid being discovered by using their stealth or taking advantage of the colouring of their plumage and by hiding in the foliage of the trees or in the undergrowth of the forest floor. The grouse will shelter themselves under the soft snow in the winter, using the snow as insulation from the cold and as a hiding place from their predators.

There are six types of grouse in North America, the Ruffed Grouse and Spruce Grouse are the most abundant and widespread.

The Sharp-tailed Grouse has characteristics similar to the prairie chickens and they are found in larger flocks from central North America into the West and are most often found in open areas, where they are able to fly unobserved. The Blue Grouse is separated into two sub-species, one called the Sooty Grouse which is found near the Pacific Coast and the Dusky Grouse found in the interiors of the West. Then, there are the Greater Sage-Grouse of the midwest prairies and the Gunnison Sage-Grouse found only in Colorado.

North American Birds Videos

Click on the bird names listed below to see pictures of the Grouses seen in North America

Dusky Grouse

Ruffed Grouse

Sharp-tailed Grouse

Sooty Grouse

Spruce Grouse

Franklin's Grouse

Greater Sage-Grouse

Gunnison Sage-Grouse

References to Other Bird Sites:

These are links to websites pertaining to the different birding institutions, societies and organizations here in North America. Some of these same sites are a great asset to seeking out knowledge on birds in other regions of the world. Each of these links offer the user different methods to identify birds, whether it be by regions, habitat, appearance or maybe colour. Knowledge on the possibilities of where and what birds might be present are included.

Hinterland Who's Who Welcome to the Web site for Hinterland Who's Who It all started in 1963, with black-and-white vignettes about the loon, the moose, the gannet and the beaver. For more than 50 years, Hinterland Who’s Who has proudly been bringing Canada’s iconic wildlife directly into Canadians’ homes. Re-launched in 2003, the new series serves to rebuild the connection thousands of viewers made with wildlife through the original series. Welcome to our new website! Have a look around, and learn how you can help ensure that the wildlife remains part of what it means to be Canadian.

Avibase - the world bird database This site provides the user with a complete list of bird species, broken down per country, or in the example of the US or Canada, per state and province. Here, bird species names are available in other languages, a great asset to be used as a translation of foreign bird names.

ABA - American Birding Association This site represents an organization that maintains official records of all birds species that have been proven to have been seen inside the perimeters of the North American Continent and the surrounding bodies of water. Regular revised versions are posted to keep the bird list current at all times. This is the list used by all serious birders over their lifetime. You may be aware of the movie called the "Big Year". It was with this list that all the competing birders used in an attempt to set a new record as to how many bird species that could be seen by an individual birder in one calendar year.

The description to follow is taken from the AOS Home Page.

AOS - The American Ornitholgy Society is an international society devoted to advancing the scientific understanding of birds, enriching ornithology as a profession, and promoting a rigorous scientific basis for the conservation of birds. As one of the world's oldest and largest ornithological societies, AOS produces scientific publications of the highest quality, hosts intellectually engaging and professionally vital meetings, serves ornithologists at every career stage, pursues a global perspective, and informs public policy on all issues important to ornithology and ornithological collections. AOS is distinguished by its tremendous collective expertise, including eminent scientists, conservation practitioners, early career innovators, and students.

I hope you will take advantage of these suggested websites. I have used each of them, in one way or another, throughout the years in my quest to better identify and understand our fine feathered friends.

Classic Collection of North American Birds

CCNAB