(Dendragapus franklini)
The spruce or Franklin grouse of Oregon and Washington is a species of
the Canadian spruce grouse, and ranges diagonally through the
mountains of eastern Oregon and Washington, and thence to the coast of
British Columbia. It confines its habitat to the higher mountains,
being seldom found below an elevation of four to five thousand feet.
This is another of the grouse family that has been given the name of
"fool hen," on account of its naturally tame nature. When sitting on
the limb of a tree, but a few feet above the ground, it considers
itself safe from all harm and makes little effort to escape, and may
often be killed with a stick. There is little sport in shooting this
variety. The food of this species, like all other mountain dwelling
grouse, is buds, tender shoots and seeds, berries and insects when
obtainable.
=Color=--Male--Upper parts gray, the central back and the wings having
a brownish hue; the tail-coverts, which are tipped with broad
splashes of white is a distinguishing feature of this species;
feathers, on the flanks tipped broadly with white, throat, black,
imperfectly edged with white; tail, nearly square at the end and of a
brownish color.
Female--Considerably more of an ochreous cast. It has the same
characteristic broad white tips on the feathers of the flanks; tail,
dirty ochre, mottled with black and narrowly tipped with white.
=Nest and Eggs=--The nest is a depression in the ground in some
secluded place and lined with leaves or grass. The eggs, averaging
about a dozen, are of a reddish buff mottled with brown.
=Measurements=--Total length about 15 inches; wing about 7 inches.
Weight from one and a half to two pounds.
[Illustration: SAGE COCK (Centrocercus europhasianus)]