James Audubon - Long - Tailed or Dusky Grouse

The Dusky Grouse is a species of forest-dwelling grouse native to the Rocky Mountains in North America. 

 

Adults have a long square tail, gray at the end. Adult males are mainly dark with a purplish throat air sac surrounded by white, and a yellow to red wattle over the eye during display. Adult females are mottled brown with dark brown and white marks on the underparts. 

 

Their breeding habitat is the edges of conifer and mixed forests in mountainous regions of western North America, from southeastern Alaska and Yukon south to New Mexico. Their range is closely associated with that of various conifers. Their nest is a scrape on the ground concealed under a shrub or log. 

 

They are permanent residents but move short distances by foot and short flights to denser forest areas in winter, with the odd habit of moving to higher altitudes in winter.

 

Gouttelette print on paper

 

Image size 70 x 50 cms

Paper size 86 x 60cms