Spruce Grouse Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesSpruce Grouse
Male (Spruce)
Medium-sized chickenlike bird. Males have a slate gray head and neck, a red eyebrow, a black chest, and white spots on lower belly.
© Kevin Pero / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, October 11, 2020Male (Franklin's)
The Franklin's subspecies of Spruce Grouse in Montana, Idaho, Washington, and British Columbia have a darker black breast without white barring.
© Joshua Covill / Macaulay LibraryMontana, October 27, 2019Male (Spruce)
Medium-sized chickenlike bird. Male has a gray head and neck, a red eyebrow, a black chest, and white spots on lower belly.
© Greg Baker / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, September 07, 2016Not all videos have sound
Female
Plump bird of spruce forests. Females come in two color morphs, gray and chestnut. This female has chestnut mottling throughout with strong horizontal barring on the underparts.
© Nick Tepper / Macaulay LibraryNew Hampshire, June 13, 2020Female (Spruce)
"Bathes" in dust, especially when molting body feathers.
© Daniel S. / Macaulay LibraryVermont, August 07, 2021Not all videos have sound
Male (Spruce)
Males have a slate gray head and neck, a red eyebrow, a black chest, and white spots on lower belly. The tail is either dark or tipped in chestnut depending on location. This individual from Maine has chestnut tips.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryMaine, May 09, 2011Female
Eats primarily pine and spruce needles in the canopy, but also forages on the ground for insects, fresh growth on shrubs, and berries.
© Eric Liner / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, July 03, 2007Not all videos have sound
Female
Feeds primarily on needles from spruce and pines, but when not eating needles they forage on the ground, eating fresh growth from shrubs and understory plants.
© Alex Eberts / Macaulay LibraryMinnesota, January 05, 2018Similar SpeciesRuffed Grouse
Adult
Ruffed Grouse have a short peak to the head that Spruce Grouse lack. They are lighter-colored overall than Spruce Grouse and appear thinner-necked.
© Alix d'Entremont / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, April 06, 2013Similar SpeciesRuffed Grouse
Male
Ruffed Grouse have a dark band near the tip of the tail that Spruce Grouse lack (easily visible with this displaying male, but also often visible on non-displaying birds).
© Lucas Bobay / Macaulay LibraryMinnesota, March 05, 2017Similar SpeciesDusky Grouse
Female
Female Dusky Grouse are larger and heavier than female Spruce Grouse, with a longer tail and plain gray breast without Spruce Grouse's barring.
© Angus Wilson / Macaulay LibraryColorado, May 22, 2016Similar SpeciesDusky Grouse
Male
Male Dusky Grouse are larger than Spruce Grouse and are gray overall instead of black with white spots. Dusky Grouse's tail is pale-tipped, whereas Spruce Grouse's tail is all black or tipped with brown.
© Chris Wood / Macaulay LibraryColorado, April 07, 2004Similar SpeciesSooty Grouse
Male
Male Sooty Grouse are larger than Spruce Grouse and are gray overall instead of black with white spots. Sooty Grouse's tail is pale-tipped, whereas Spruce Grouse's tail is all black or tipped with brown.
© David Lawrence / Macaulay LibraryWashington, July 21, 2012Similar SpeciesSooty Grouse
Female
Female Sooty Grouse are larger and heavier than female Spruce Grouse, with a longer tail and plain gray breast without Spruce Grouse's barring or white speckling.
© Alex Lamoreaux / Macaulay LibraryWashington, July 31, 2015Similar SpeciesWhite-tailed Ptarmigan
Breeding Female
Female White-tailed Ptarmigan are smaller than Spruce Grouse and tend to occur in open tundra rather than spruce forests. They are paler than Spruce Grouse, shorter-tailed, and lack white markings on the belly.
© Steve Collins / Macaulay LibraryColorado, July 07, 2011Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies(Order: Galliformes, Family: Phasianidae)
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