Sooty Grouse

Sooty Grouse (today Dendragapus fulginosus) and Dusky Grouse (today Dendrapagus obscurus) were long considered a single species, Blue Grouse, which had the latin species name obscuras. Some researchers in the early 20th century considered the two birds distinct (the Wikipedia article on Sooty Grouse mentions research by Brooks, 1929 based on "morphology, behavior, and vocalizations"), but by the early 1940s, the consensus appears to have been that Sooty Grouse was the darker, coastal subspecies of Blue Grouse. In 2006, however, the American Ornithologist's Union split them again based on recent DNA research, giving obscuras to Dusky Grouse, fulginosus to Sooty Grouse.

Present year-round, but not that common and distribution limited to the heavily wooded northwestern part of the county. Favors forested areas but frequently forages at forest edges, meadow edges, and edges of other large clearings. Often moves to higher elevations (sometimes near the timberline) in late summer while spending the winter months at lower elevations. Roosts in coniferous trees, but forages on the ground. Comparatively tame when approached.

Sooty Grouse is a large, dark, brownish-grey grouse with a relatively long tail as grouses go. Females are browner and more speckled than males, which have a dark tail with a pale grey terminal band and a yellow band above the eye. Females usually plainer and greyer below. In display, the male exposes yellowish air sacs at the "shoulder" surrounded by white feathers and shows yellow-orange eye combs (in Dusky Grouse, the air sacs are a purplish red). Courting males give a series of five or six loud hoots in the early spring (usually from a perch in a tree) to attract females. These may be heard at very great distances. Guide books note that females may be confused with female Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus), but the latter does not usually occur in Sonoma County. Female Ruffed Grouse has a more crested look and a dark band at the tip of the tail lacking in Sooty Grouse.