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Dusky Grouse

Overview
ID Info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Dusky Grouse Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Song
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Colorado, April 11, 2018Recorded by Tom Johnson | Macaulay Library
Calls
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Wyoming, August 22, 1986Recorded by Arnoud van den Berg | Macaulay Library
Calls
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Wyoming, August 22, 1986Recorded by Arnoud van den Berg | Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Calls

Males advertise their territory with a series of very low-pitched, quiet hoots. Though these are quiet and easy to miss, they can carry for more than 100 feet. Because this vocalization is given repeatedly to mark territory and attract females, some researchers refer to it as “song.” Males also give a growling gugugug or more staccato cak-cak-cak when confronting rivals or other intruders, including humans. Females give a quavering cackle or whinny to show interest to advertising males. In aggressive encounters, females give a hiss or chickenlike cluck. Females stay in contact with chicks using a quiet tu, sometimes repeated. If separated from her brood, hens give loud, high-pitched skree, kweer-kweer, and kwa-kwa calls.

Other Sounds

Males often make audible flapping noises during flutter flights or conflicts.

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Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies(Order: Galliformes, Family:Phasianidae)

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