Dusky grouse
A large, slow forest grouse of Black Canyon's sagebrush flats and conifer slopes, easier to find in spring.
Dusky grouse at a glance
Dendragapus obscurus DUS-kee grows; Dendragapus obscurus is den-DRAG-uh-pus ob-SKYOOR-us
- Type
- Bird · grouse
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Size
- 15.5 to 21 inches long, about the length of a bowling pin.
Eats leaves, insects, flowers, berries, conifer needles
It forages on the ground in summer and moves into trees in winter when the ground is snow covered.
Should you worry?
None. It is a large, quiet bird that would rather walk away than confront anyone.
A dusky grouse does not act like a bird that wants to be seen. It is big for a grouse, 15.5 to 21 inches long, and it would rather walk into the brush than fly. At Black Canyon it lives here year-round, on sagebrush flats in summer and in conifer forest in winter.
In summer it forages on the ground, eating leaves, insects, flowers, and berries. When snow covers the ground, it moves up into the trees and eats conifer needles. NPS says males are usually gray and females brown, but courtship displays show other colors. In spring the males put on a display and give low-pitched hoots, which is the best chance to find one.
October is a fair month to flush a grouse on the rim. The birds are moving between the open flats and the conifers, and a quiet walk through the edge habitat can push one up. It will not go far. It is built to disappear into the same brush it just left.
Did you know?
- NPS lists it as a year-round resident of Black Canyon.
- Males are usually gray and females brown, but courtship displays show other colors.
- It eats conifer needles in winter, when snow covers the ground.
Common questions
Where does a dusky grouse live at Black Canyon?
On sagebrush flats in summer and in conifer forests in winter. It is a year-round resident of the park.
What does it eat?
Leaves, insects, flowers, berries, and conifer needles. In winter it forages in trees when the ground is covered.
When is the best time to see one?
Spring, when males put on a courtship display and give low-pitched hoots. NPS says they are easier to spot then.
Is a dusky grouse dangerous?
No. It is a large forest bird that stays on the ground or in low trees and avoids people.