Overview
This is a relatively small grouse. The plumage of this plump bird is finely patterned, but it essentially has grey upperparts, brown wings and chestnut flecked white underparts. The male has a short erectile crest and a white-bordered black throat. The female has a shorter crest and lacks the black color on the throat. In flight, this species shows a black-tipped grey tail.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Bird
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Genus
- Tetrastes
- Species
- bonasia
Habitat
Dense, damp, mixed coniferous woodland, preferably with some spruce.
Diet
Plants and insects.
Behavior
The nest is on the ground, and 3–6 eggs is the normal clutch size. The female incubates the eggs and cares for the chicks alone, as is typical with gamebirds. This bird feeds on the ground. The male has a high-pitched ti-ti-ti-ti-ti call, and the female a liquid tettettettettet. These calls, along with the burr of the flying birds' wings, are often the only indication of this grouse's presence, since its shyness and dense woodland habitat make it difficult to see.
Hunting
Typically hunted with a 20 gauge shotgun.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern by IUCN.