The Spruce Grouse

By Al Lowe
Contributor

Here in northern Ontario, we have three species of grouse. The most common one which everyone knows, is the Ruffed Grouse (mistakenly called partridge). Another is the Sharp-tailed Grouse, and the third is the Spruce Grouse.
This bird is commonly given the name ‘fool hen’, because it has never really become afraid of man. Hence, as civilization proceeded, the Spruce Grouse became just about extinct, except in the north or in very wild areas. It is so trusting of man that it can be touched, and it is no trouble to kill it with a stick. Actually the term ‘fool hen’ was first applied to the Ruffed Grouse in New England, but that bird soon learned to be very wary indeed. They are quite a challenge to hunters in more southern areas.
The Spruce Grouse is a bit smaller than the Ruffed one. Also, the color of the male is totally different. He has a jet black breast and chin, bordered with white. Head and back are bluey-grey, shading to brownish. Sides are brown and grey, mixed with white. Tail is black, tipped with buff. Altogether, he is very smart looking bird, especially when he is on display for the female. He also has a brilliant red ‘comb’ over each eye. The female, on the other hand, is quite drab. Mostly brown on top, and greyish underneath, with bits of white, she can hardly be seen in the woods if she keeps still.
This grouse also drums, but not in the same way as his ruffed cousin. He starts from a tree and sails down, beating his wings furiously on the way. The result is a low sound, like distant thunder. He does this over and over again, to impress his lady love.
Spruce Grouse are so named because they feed, in the winter, on the needles and buds of some evergreens, mainly spruce. The bird will sometimes almost live in the evergreens, using them for shelter as well as food. In summer, of course, it eats seeds, berries, clover and so on. The flesh of the bird in winter, has a taste of turpentine about it, so it is not hunted very much for food. The meat apparently does taste all right in the early fall.
This grouse has saved many a trapper, hunter or lost Mountie from starvation, in the northern woods. It is a bird which is ridiculously easy to catch and kill. It can be killed with a stick, or a well-aimed branch. In other days, people used to catch them with nooses on the end of poles. It would sit on a branch while the hunter reached up wit a pole and slipped the noose over its head. And it is very easy to shoot. The Spruce Grouse never learned to run or fly away.
The Spruce Grouse (Dendragapus canadensis) is quite a presentable native of the evergreen forest. It has been re-introduced into southern Ontario and some parts of the States. Whether it will ever become plentiful is not very probable, given its naive, trusting nature.