_Tetrao sabini_, DOUGLAS, Trans. Linn. Soc. XVI, 1829, 137.—RICH. F.
Bor. Am. II, 1831, 343. _? Tetrao umbellus_, RICH. F. Bor. Am. II,
1831, 342.—NEWBERRY, Zoöl. Cal. & Or. Route, Rep. P. R. R. Surv. VI,
IV, 1857, 94. _Bonasa sabini_, BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 631.—COOPER &
SUCKLEY, 224.—ELLIOT, P. A. N. S. 1864.—IB. Monog. Tetraon.—LORD, Pr.
R. A. I. IV, 123 (Br. Col.).—GRAY, Cat. Brit. Mus. V, 1867, 89.—DALL &
BANNISTER, Tr. Chicago Ac. I, 1869, 287 (Alaska coast).—COOPER, Orn.
Cal. I, 1870, 540.
SP. CHAR. Similar to var. _umbellus_, but much darker. The rufous tints
almost castaneous, and the dusky markings larger. Length, about 18.00;
wing, 7.30; tail, 6.70.
HAB. Coast Mountains of Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia.
The specimens of Ruffed Grouse from the Pacific coast differ very
greatly from others in much darker tints of coloration, although the
pattern is precisely the same. The upper parts are dark orange-chestnut,
mottled with black, the cordate light spots very distinct. The feathers
of the breast are strongly tinged with reddish-yellow; those of the
sides marked with broad and conspicuous bars of black, instead of
the obsolete brown. The under tail-coverts are orange-chestnut, with
indistinct bars of black, and an angular terminal blotch of white.
All the light brown blotches and edgings of the eastern variety are
here dark brown or black. The jugular band between the ruffles is very
conspicuously black. Specimens from Eastern Oregon and Washington have
dark gray tails, and thus incline toward var. _umbelloides_.
HABITS. The Western Ruffed Grouse was found abundant by Dr. Suckley in
the timbered districts throughout Oregon and Washington Territory. Its
habits seemed to be identical with those of the eastern birds. Owing to
the mildness of the season in the vicinity of Fort Steilacoom, the males
commence drumming as early as January, and in February they are heard to
drum throughout the night. In the autumn they collect in great numbers
in the crab-apple thickets near the salt marshes at the mouths of the
rivers emptying into Puget Sound. There they feed for about six weeks on
the ripe fruit of the northwestern crab-apple, the _Pyrus rivularis_ of
Nuttall.
Dr. Cooper also speaks of this Grouse as very abundant everywhere about
the borders of woods and clearings. It was common near the forests
east of the Cascade Mountains up to the 49th degree. These birds
vary in plumage there, a pale-grayish hue predominating. West of the
mountains they are all of a very dark brown. There was, however, no
perceptible difference in their habits or cries from those of the same
bird elsewhere.
Mr. J. K. Lord assigns to this species an extended geographical range
west of the Rocky Mountains,—from the borders of California, throughout
Oregon and Washington Territories, extending high up on the slopes of
the Rocky Mountains, plentiful in all the timbered lands between the
Cascades and the rocky ruts along the banks of the Columbia, over the
ridge of the Cascades, and down their western slopes to Frazer’s River,
in all the islands of the Gulf of Georgia, and everywhere on Vancouver
Island to its extreme northern end, and on the mainland as far north
as latitude 53°. The habits of this Grouse are described as singularly
erratic, and its food as varied in its character. In the spring their
favorite haunt is in the vicinity of stagnant pools, or in the brush
around a marsh in which the wild swamp-crab, the black birch, and the
alder grow. In such places they mate, and during the breeding-season are
said to be very constant and devoted. During the time of pairing, and
at intervals after their young are hatched, the male produces the sound
known as drumming. The bird is said to squat on a log or a fallen tree,
motionless as though it had no life. Suddenly all the feathers appear
as if reversed, the tail is erected, the ruff round its neck stands
out stiff and rigid, and the wings droop as if broken. These slowly
vibrate, and then produce a sound loud and clear, like the thrum of a
double-bass string. Then the wings move with increased rapidity, and the
sound becomes a continuous throbbing hum. It then suddenly ceases, and
after a few minutes the same performance is repeated.
Mr. Lord also states that he has seen the males of this species fighting
furiously during the pairing season. Ruffing up their necks, with their
heads and backs almost in a straight line, and with wings dropped,
they circle round and round each other, striking and pecking until the
vanquished gives in, and the victor mounts upon a log and proceeds to
drum furiously.
Their nest is completed about the end of May, and is always placed under
a log on the ground, or at the foot of a bush. It is composed of a
quantity of dead leaves, lined with dry grasses, bits of moss, and a few
feathers.
Mr. Lord adds that he found at least ten nests of this bird in one
swamp near the Spokane Prairies. From ten to fourteen eggs was about
the average number; they are described as in color of a dirty white,
and without any spots or freckles of a darker shade. The chickens
at once leave the nest and follow their mother, who calls them with
a clucking sound, in the manner of a Hen, covers them when resting,
and uses all kinds of feints and stratagems to lure an intruder from
her young, fluttering along close to his feet as if her wings were
entirely disabled, and then, when her chickens have had time to
conceal themselves, suddenly darting off. When frightened, this Grouse
rises with a loud rattling sound; but its natural upward movement is
noiseless.
After the chickens are old enough, the flock removes to open hillsides
where grass-seed, berries, and insects are in abundance. This Grouse
never packs, but remains in broods. In the fall, before they begin to
feed on the spruce buds, their flesh is said to be delicious; but after
the snow shuts them off from other food they feed on the fir buds, and
then their flesh acquires a strong flavor of turpentine.
In the tree this Grouse is not an easy bird to discover; so closely
does its plumage resemble the lichen-covered bark that it is difficult
to distinguish them, especially as, when alarmed, they crouch down
lengthwise with the limb, and thus become concealed.