(Dendragapus obscurus fuliginosus)
The sooty grouse, commonly called blue grouse by the sportsmen of
California, are reasonably plentiful in the Sierras from the Yosemite
north into Oregon, where they are quite plentiful, and from there
through Washington into Alaska. It is a mountain dweller, being found
at altitudes fully 9000 feet above the sea. In the winter it descends
to lower latitudes, but seldom below 3000 feet. It is naturally a
confiding bird where it has not been hunted much, and for this reason
has been given the name, "fool hen," in many localities. But like
most of the feathered tribe, it soon learns the destructiveness of
man, and after gaining this knowledge it is quite able to take care of
itself. When flushed it flies with a cackling sound, generally taking
refuge in the tall pines, where it is an expert hider. In the nesting
season it produces a drumming sound and struts like a turkey. This
drumming is produced by inflating an air sack on each side of the
neck. Later in the season these sacks dry up and nearly disappear.
It's only migrations are ascending and descending the mountains with
the seasons.
According to a published statement of the Section of Biological Survey
of the United States Department of Agriculture, the food of the sooty
grouse consists of buds, seeds, leaves and insects, of which 68 per cent
is leaves, buds and the tender ends of young twigs; 6.73 per cent
insects and the balance seeds, berries and the like. The flesh is
generally of a fine flavor, though at times it will be found to be
tainted a little strongly with the flavor of the pine.
=Color=--Male--Back of head, back of neck and all upper parts, a sooty
brown; light streak over the eye and a light throat; breast, a dead or
sooty black; the rest of the under parts a slaty gray; tail tipped
with gray.
Female--Generally lighter in color but otherwise resembling the male.
=Nest and Eggs=--The nest is usually nothing more than a depression in
the ground among dried leaves or grass, well concealed from view. The
eggs, which average about a dozen, are of a cream color, spotted with
brown.
=Measurements=--Total length, from 18 to 22 inches; wing, 9 to 9-1/2. The
weight will vary from 2-1/2 to 4 pounds.
[Illustration: OREGON RUFFED GROUSE (Bonasa umbellus sabini)]