#canachitescanadensis

[gmessy30]

Spruce Grouse, Canada Grouse, Fool's Hen, Spotted Grouse, Black Partridge, or Spruce Hen 𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 or 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 I'm not sure why all of the names, especially if not all of them are hens, hmm?! Anyway, this one flew in front of me and landed in a spruce tree. Not sure how it is holding on. Apparently, they eat spruce needles. This one, I think, is a male, though there does not seem to be a bright red patch over it's eye. Perhaps it is a young one, or the light was too low. The females are typically more muted, and the young all tend to resemble the females for camouflage. Once again it is difficult to research because most of the photos online are in the extreme or near-perfect examples. I found one site, birdweb.org, that has a similar picture, and states it is a male. #sonydschx400v #sonydsc #sonycybershot #SonyCameras #sprucegrouse #falcipenniscanadensis #malefoolshen #malesprucegrouse #malesprucehen #birdweb #kenai #kenaipeninsulabirds #alaska #alaskaphotography #alaskawildlife #alaskawildlifephotography #alaskabirds #canachitescanadensis (at Kenai, Alaska) https://www.instagram.com/p/CV4hNasrNrH/?utm_medium=tumblr

[gmessy30]

Spruce Grouse, male 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 Found this little fella gathering gravel. He froze for the longest time. I just say there with the engine off, remaining in the vehicle, and he slowly went about his business. When he was done he eyed a nearby tree, and flew up into it's branches. Oddly enough, I don't believe that is a spruce tree, more like a pound of some sort. #sprucegrouse #canachitescanadensis #kalifornsky #sonydschx400v #sonydsc #sonycybershot #SonyCameras (at Kalifornsky, Alaska) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTkSCRbFa9k/?utm_medium=tumblr