From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Grouse
Greater Sage-Grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Galliformes Family: Tetraonidae Vigors, 1825
Genera
Falcipennis Dendragapus Lagopus Tetrao Bonasa Centrocercus Tympanuchus

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Tetraonidae

Grouse are a group of birds from the order Galliformes. Grouse inhabit temperate and subarctic regions of the northern hemisphere. They are game and are sometimes hunted for food.

In all but one species (the Willow Grouse), males are polygamous, and many species have elaborate courtship displays. These heavily built birds have legs feathered to the toes. Most species are year-round residents, and do not migrate.

These birds feed mainly on vegetables, but also on insects, especially when feeding young.

The American Ornithologists' Union includes grouse (Tetraonidae) as a subfamily of Phasianidae. Based on mtDNA sequences, some systematists believe that certain species belong in new genera.^[1]

Genus Falcipennis

• Siberian Grouse, Falcipennis falcipennis
• Spruce Grouse, Falcipennis canadensis

Genus Dendragapus (Blue Grouse; now split into two species)

• Dusky Grouse, Dendragapus obscurus
• Sooty Grouse, Dendragapus fuliginosus

Genus Lagopus

• Willow Grouse (Willow Ptarmigan in North America), Lagopus lagopus
  • Red Grouse L. l. scoticus^{[verification needed]} - Possibly a distinct species.
• Ptarmigan (Rock Ptarmigan in North America), Lagopus mutus
• White-tailed Ptarmigan, Lagopus leucura

Genus Tetrao

• Eurasian Black Grouse, Tetrao tetrix
• Caucasian Black Grouse, Tetrao mlokosiewiczi
• Capercaillie, Tetrao urogallus
• Black-billed Capercaillie, Tetrao parvirostris

Genus Bonasa

• Hazel Grouse, Bonasa bonasia
• Severtzov's Grouse, Bonasa sewerzowi
• Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa umbellus

Genus Centrocercus

• Greater Sage-Grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus
• Gunnison Sage-Grouse, Centrocercus minimus

Genus Tympanuchus

• Sharp-tailed Grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus
• Greater Prairie-Chicken, Tympanuchus cupido
  • Heath Hen, T. c. cupido (extinct, 1932) - possibly a distinct species
• Lesser Prairie-Chicken Tympanuchus pallidicinctus

1. ^ Gutiérrez, R.J., Barrowclough, G.F. & Groth, J.G. 2000: A classification of the grouse (Aves: Tetraoninae) based on mitochondrial DNA sequences. - Wildl. Biol. 6: 205-211 [1].

• Grouse videos on the Internet Bird Collection