Posted by sarah pletcher on October 31, 2006

Q: I keep seeing this bird outside my window. Sometimes it perches up the hillside on a rock and watches me, but lately he comes down and struts back and forth outside the sliding door. I got these pictures during todays matinee.

At first I thought it was a ruffed grouse, but it doesn't have the black "ruff". Could it be a spruce grouse?

Habitat: forest/open woods

State: Vermont

Habitat: forest/open woods

A: Thanks so much for the photos, they clinched it! This is what you first thought, a male Ruffed Grouse. The first photo shows a bit of its black ruff but it isn't all that obvious. I think Vermont may have some Spruce Grouse in the state but they'd be way up north (although you didn't say where you live in VT). It might interest you to know that your bird isn't just strutting in front of the sliding glass door for no reason - it sees its reflection and is not happy with that "intruder" on his territory. this isn't the breeding season and I would imagine that in the spring if your bird returns, it will display much more vigorously and its ruff will show.

Thanks for asking and I trust this answers your question.

John Wiessinger ( October 31, 2006)