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Spruce Grouse

Spruce Grouse

Canachites canadensis

Range & Recent Observations

Spruce Grouseis a year-round resident and doesn't follow a migration flyway. See the Range tab for where it lives.

Last Spotted Near You

View on eBirdWikipedia

About the Spruce Grouse

The spruce grouse (Canachites canadensis), also known as Canada grouse, spruce hen or fool hen, is a medium-sized grouse closely associated with the coniferous boreal forests or taiga of North America. It is the only member of the genus Canachites. It is one of the most arboreal grouse species, fairly well adapted to perching and moving about in trees. When approached by a predator, it relies on camouflage and immobility to an amazing degree; for example, letting people approach within a few feet before finally taking flight.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name
Canachites canadensis
Family
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies
Order
Galliformes

Similar species

Other members of the pheasants, grouse, and allies family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.

  • Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus
  • Blue-breasted Quail Synoicus chinensis
  • Brown Quail Synoicus ypsilophorus
  • Chukar Alectoris chukar
  • Common Quail Coturnix coturnix
  • Dusky Grouse Dendragapus obscurus
  • Erckel's Spurfowl Pternistis erckelii
  • Golden Pheasant Chrysolophus pictus
  • Gray Francolin Ortygornis pondicerianus
  • Gray Partridge Perdix perdix
  • Gray Peacock-Pheasant Polyplectron bicalcaratum
  • Greater Prairie-Chicken Tympanuchus cupido

Know when the Spruce Grouse turns up near you

Add it to your watchlist and draw an alert zone around the places you actually bird. Birdr checks eBird reports and tells you when one is seen inside it.

How rare bird alerts work →

Gear for spotting Spruce Grouse

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Spotting Scopes for Distance Birding

Essential for shorebirds, raptors, and anything too far for binoculars. Our tested picks.

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