Sept. 26, 2010 - Spruce Grouse

Last week I found this beautiful male Spruce Grouse along a gravel road in Lake County (northern Minnesota). When I realized what it was, I quickly stopped the car and took this photo out the window.

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I then remembered how tame Spruce Grouse can be, so I slowly opened the car door and got out. He allowed me to walk within about 40 feet. I was able to kneel down and continue to photograph him from his level and he didn’t move away at all.

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Spruce Grouse are found over most of Canada and Alaska. Their territory also extends down into the Rocky Mountains and just barely dips into Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and the northeastern states. Here in Minnesota, Spruce Grouse are difficult to find so I realized how lucky I was to see this one.

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Here’s the classic “field guide” pose. You can see all the identifying field marks including the red combs over the eyes. Also note the feathers on the back of the legs.

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This is my favorite shot. He has a very regal look and is slightly puffed up as if defending his territory.

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The Spruce Grouse quickly went back to his original task of picking up and ingesting small stones. A large portion of his diet consists of pine needles. The stones stay in his crop and help to break up the needles so they can be more easily digested.

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Here’s a very stern look from a really beautiful bird.

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