Photo: Patrick Coin (Patrick Coin) / CC BY-SA 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Sooty Grouse
Dendragapus fuliginosus
Sooty Grouse (Dendragapus fuliginosus) — Gamebirds of North America.
Found across 16 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Sooty Grouse (Dendragapus fuliginosus) is a member of the Phasianidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Galliformes
- Family Phasianidae Pheasants & Allies
- Genus Dendragapus
- Species fuliginosus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1 kg
- Diet
- Plant-eaters
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Order
- Galliformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Sooty Grouse feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Sooty Grouse is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Sooty Grouse (Dendragapus fuliginosus) belongs to the Phasianidae family of the order Galliformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA se Alaska to s California.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1 kg, with a wing length of about 22.3 cm and a tail of around 14 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 577,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Sooty Grouse?
The Sooty Grouse is a very large bird that weighs around 1 kg.
Where does the Sooty Grouse live?
The Sooty Grouse is found across North America with a range covering NA se Alaska to s California, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Sooty Grouse belong to?
The Sooty Grouse (Dendragapus fuliginosus) belongs to the Phasianidae family, in the order Galliformes.
What does the Sooty Grouse eat?
The Sooty Grouse feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.
Does the Sooty Grouse migrate?
The Sooty Grouse is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Sooty Grouse endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Sooty Grouse make?
1 real field recording of the Sooty Grouse can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Sooty Grouse's range?
The Sooty Grouse has a mapped global range of about 577,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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