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View Full Version : Grouse Chicks: Name The Species.



Mr. Dean
03-03-2009, 03:26 AM
I dunno whats what here. Do you? :???:


http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0045-2.jpg

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0072-1a.jpg


Maybe one's a Robbin??? :razz:

Glenny
03-03-2009, 06:21 AM
Looks like lil Ruffled Grouses.

Reeves
03-03-2009, 07:23 AM
I am by no means an expert on Grouse.
But going by the adult pictures you have posted I'd have to go with Spruce.

I don't know anyone in North America that will know Grouse like Francy Hermans, in Belgium.
http://www.tragopan.be/00000098300a92b11/index.html

Another site.
http://grouse.fotopic.net/

I have been kicking the idea around for a few years now, about trying to get some Tragopans from Francy.

Another site in Alberta.
http://www.aviangenetics.com/

I have some info here on the Blue Grouse, on the split between Dusky and Sooty, if you want it.

lilhoss
03-03-2009, 07:53 AM
both are willow grouse(ruffed)

Reeves
03-03-2009, 08:26 AM
both are willow grouse(ruffed)

Huh ?

You can have Willow Ptarmigan , but Willow Ruffed Grouse ? :razz:

Dean's pictures are of chicks about 4-7 days old. In this picture of an older chick you can see what a young Spruce looks like.
http://grouse.fotopic.net/p33354962.html

Leaseman
03-03-2009, 08:41 AM
I'm thinking Willow too........

wolverine
03-03-2009, 08:44 AM
Ruffed (colq. willow grouse) would be my guess too.

Reeves
03-03-2009, 09:14 AM
Grouse Chicks: Name The Species.

http://www.gbwf.org/grouse/index.html

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/DerrickJB/tiphat.gif

:lol:

3kills
03-03-2009, 09:14 AM
ya they both look like lil mini ruffed to me

Mr. Dean
03-03-2009, 10:10 AM
LOOK again....They have different plumage.

- bottom bird has a solid coloured breast
- top bird looks "more dressed up".



I'm thinking 2 different birds (Ruffy & Spruce?) but can't say which is what.

Dirty
03-03-2009, 10:17 AM
Let google images solve this problem:

Ruffed Grouse Chick:
http://k41.pbase.com/u16/richwooder/large/39140316.RuffedGrouseChickinWoodsEN.jpg

http://image04.webshots.com/4/5/13/14/164051314AjbZaH_fs.jpg

Spruce Grouse Chicks:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_C3Ve95fllGs/SKEAAoeNNdI/AAAAAAAACfs/ChvhS7P-VsQ/s400/99499447.vbTcaSA6.jpg

http://image06.webshots.com/6/5/17/45/164051745CGzGrK_ph.jpg

You guys be the judges, I am saying Spruce. The reason why is the head markings. If you look at both Willow/Ruffed Examples there is no mark in front of the eye between the eye and beak. On the spruce grouse all have a small black mark between the eye and beak. Look at both examples posted by Mr.Dean and there is a dark mark between the eye and beak.

Dirty the Perpetrator AKA Google Images Cyber Sleuth

Mr. Dean
03-03-2009, 10:35 AM
The Ruffed pics didn't come through. The sample of the Spruce is a DEAD ringer for one of my pics though (bottom).

I still maintain that the other one's a different species....

Reeves
03-03-2009, 10:49 AM
LOOK again....They have different plumage.

- bottom bird has a solid coloured breast
- top bird looks "more dressed up".



I'm thinking 2 different birds (Ruffy & Spruce?) but can't say which is what.

Different ages. Bottom one still has down, the other is starting to feather out.

Reeves
03-03-2009, 10:56 AM
Although I'm not able to see the pictures Dirty posted, he has it right.
The Ruffed also doesn't have the dark chocolate markings on the top of it's head, like Spruce Grouse have.

Dirty
03-03-2009, 11:01 AM
Ruffed:
http://www.holohil.com/grouse4.jpg

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://k41.pbase.com/u16/richwooder/large/39140316.RuffedGrouseChickinWoodsEN.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.pbase.com/richwooder/image/39140316&usg=__h3oC6UaYngDPRYViMorWrypvIX8=&h=527&w=800&sz=64&hl=en&start=2&tbnid=f7QIn4U21GInbM:&tbnh=94&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Druffed%2Bgrouse%2Bchick%26gbv%3D2%26h l%3Den%26sa%3DG

Spruce:
http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_C3Ve95fllGs/SKEAAoeNNdI/AAAAAAAACfs/ChvhS7P-VsQ/s400/99499447.vbTcaSA6.jpg&imgrefurl=http://menwerro.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html&usg=__S3Ridi6SHYeC-IS_Od1uIoGw3-8=&h=371&w=400&sz=56&hl=en&start=9&um=1&tbnid=8zQD-97xItEN7M:&tbnh=115&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dspruce%2Bgrouse%2Bchick%26um%3D1%26hl %3Den%26sa%3DN

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://image06.webshots.com/6/5/17/45/164051745CGzGrK_ph.jpg&imgrefurl=http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1164051745053532213CGzGrK&usg=__Uol7mRr4Ngd9YLTYCB4GZDkN5zE=&h=480&w=640&sz=37&hl=en&start=6&um=1&tbnid=L7Ubiw4IEngpXM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dspruce%2Bgrouse%2Bchick%26um%3D1%26hl %3Den%26sa%3DN

The links are long, but copy and paste them and you can see the markings I was talking about.

Mr. Dean
03-03-2009, 11:03 AM
Different ages. Bottom one still has down, the other is starting to feather out.


Well nail me 'tween the eyes with a ball peen hammer! You could be right.

Brings up more questions for me though.... I think I'll run this over on the "Gobble Forums" too. :razz:

3kills
03-03-2009, 11:07 AM
after seein the pics of the spruce chicks i will say both spruce now LOL...i m sure they are both the same species like reeves said different ages

Reeves
03-03-2009, 11:20 AM
Well nail me 'tween the eyes with a ball peen hammer! You could be right.

Brings up more questions for me though.... I think I'll run this over on the "Gobble Forums" too. :razz:

"Could" be right ? :razz:

Good idea on the other as well ! Be interesting to see the replies over time (slower site).

winbuckhunter
03-03-2009, 11:57 AM
bottom one is younger.. still has the fuzzies... top one is a lil older.. both ruffed i'm thinkin

PGK
03-03-2009, 12:38 PM
They're both ruffies, about six weeks apart in feather growth, I think.

Dirty
03-03-2009, 12:42 PM
They're both ruffies, about six weeks apart in feather growth, I think.


Enlighten me how you can make such a decisive identification? Not being snooty, I seriously want to know how to identify them properly.

PGK
03-03-2009, 12:44 PM
Enlighten me how you can make such a decisive identification? Not being snooty, I seriously want to know how to identify them properly.

I've spent a lot of time looking at chicks :lol: I'm just ballparking their age based on what I've seen in the last spring when I spent a couple months following a brood around.

Dirty
03-03-2009, 01:10 PM
Did you look at the pictures I provided? I think they are Spruce Grouse. However, I have been known to be wrong, but with chicks sometimes No mean Yes.

Mr. Dean
03-03-2009, 01:26 PM
Weird. I can't find a sample that shows a spruce chick in the plumage of the top pic.... They all seem to be dupe's of the bottom image.


Reeves, how much age difference, ya think???

Dirty
03-03-2009, 01:34 PM
http://www.globalbirdphotos.com/birds/grouse/spruce_grouse/

Another pic of a spruce grouse chick.

Dirty
03-03-2009, 01:35 PM
http://www.pbase.com/rollosphotos/image/98016001

Another pic of a ruffed grouse chick.

wolverine
03-03-2009, 02:04 PM
They all look the same when you're standing on their wings and hanging on to the feet. Geez...... did that come out right????

Reeves
03-03-2009, 02:16 PM
Reeves, how much age difference, ya think???

Top Spruce chick, about 6-7 days old.
Bottom Spruce chick, about 3-4 days old.

Pheasants and Peafowl (which is a member of the Pheasant family anyway) , Quail , Grouse etc all develope wing feathers first and fast.
The above mentioned can fly fairly well at 7-10 days of age.
The one on the bottom would have been able to fly branch to branch following the hen up a tree, without any trouble.

At the age PGK mentioned (six weeks) they would look very much like the hen, except be slightly smaller in size, with sub-adult feathering.

The others would understand if they knew as much about me as you do :lol:

Mr. Dean
03-03-2009, 03:27 PM
The others would understand if they knew as much about me as you do :lol:


OK...... Reeve's is a FREAK when it comes to birds. :shock:

He does admit, though, he's not King Freak,,,, but I think he's hoping to run for that position, sometime. :razz:

Reeves
03-03-2009, 03:28 PM
Peafowl wing growth http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://database.amyspeacockparadise.com/bs1week.jpg&imgrefurl=http://database.amyspeacockparadise.com/bsgrowth1.shtml&usg=__1Sp4yRw7-Z4ylDOwtWW7LltKOpk=&h=312&w=400&sz=139&hl=en&start=15&tbnid=8iW_ZaGgATzs3M:&tbnh=97&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpeafowl%2Bchick%2Bpictures%26gbv%3D2% 26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

Mr. Dean
03-03-2009, 03:32 PM
Top Spruce chick, about 6-7 days old.
Bottom Spruce chick, about 3-4 days old.

3-4 days makes up for that much difference. That's nearly unbelievable!


One of Dirty's samples kinda shows a natural transition between the 2 of mine - I'll roll over and say that your right; these are 2 Sprucies.

PGK
03-03-2009, 04:26 PM
So from this I can assume that the two broods I followed around last spring for over two months were in fact baby spruce grouse adopted by a ruffie hen :razz: O rly?
Makes even less sense when you consider that I was able to follow them through their plumage for that time period, so I *think* I have a relatively good grasp on what happens to them.....so I was watching two different broods of six spruce grouse chicks adopted by two different ruffie hens??

At any rate, the exact same type of bird that Mr Dean posted pics of is the same species of bird that I watched a hen ruffed grouse raise for nine weeks, at which point I could no longer find them. Six weeks may be long, the more I think about it. I will have to dig out my notes to check. C'est la vie. If Reeves raises em, he should know!!

Reeves
03-03-2009, 04:59 PM
PGK - next time you are on a nine week prowl for Bonasa umbellus , you should take a good indentification book with you.

Did you happen to take a camera with you ?

Mr. Dean
03-03-2009, 05:02 PM
I got no idea what you were tailing, PGK... We need PICS!

Anyhoo, I'm certain beyond doubt that my pics are of Spruce Grouse.


The thread's been interesting and I've learned lots. Thanks to all that contributed.

Mr. Dean
03-03-2009, 05:06 PM
Lemme see if I can help.


PGK. What kind of bird do we have here?

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0070a.jpg

PGK
03-03-2009, 06:42 PM
My grouse ID is good, don't worry. That looks like a really light coloured sprucie. The difference between our spruce and ruffed is night and day, literally. Ruffies are light or reddish and all the sprucies I have ever seen have been black as night. No, of course I don't have pics. Nobody ever does when they really need to prove their point, do they :lol: Chit

Mr. Dean
03-03-2009, 07:06 PM
Very good!!

And no. I'm not trying to be condescending, just wanting to know if you know the diff. :smile:


But here's the corker;

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0056a.jpg


This is the same bird as the previous but WITH one of them little chicks (lower pic @ start). The reason for me starting this thread was that I couldn't remember what the mom was of the other one and it *looked* different.

Just what you were studying up there, I don't know. I believe it was something, but perhaps you got your 'memory stick' mixed up w/ something else (?). :confused:

PGK
03-03-2009, 07:27 PM
Well, two options: either your southern morphs are quite a bit different than ours, or somehow a hen ruffie adopted sprucie chicks.

This is what our sprucies look like compared to ruffies, sorry for the chitty pic, I haven't seen one since I got better at photography.

Hard to mistake these two....

Spruce
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg126/Tako870/Hunting06-JL01.jpg

Ruffed
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg126/Tako870/Hunting07-NNMP06.jpg

Reeves
03-03-2009, 08:04 PM
My grouse ID is good, don't worry.

Sorry to tell you, but in the top picture you have: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/015/galleries/photos/CPW_COVERBlue-Grouse/image_preview&imgrefurl=http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/015/galleries/photos/CPW_COVERBlue-Grouse&usg=__xJnYG5GEcncy0MIVEEbNuyjZDBE=&h=325&w=400&sz=34&hl=en&start=4&tbnid=9bXBYbv7KEKmbM:&tbnh=101&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3DDusky%2BBlue%2BGrouse%26gbv%3D2%26hl% 3Den%26sa%3DG

huntwriter
03-03-2009, 08:25 PM
Peafowl wing growth http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://database.amyspeacockparadise.com/bs1week.jpg&imgrefurl=http://database.amyspeacockparadise.com/bsgrowth1.shtml&usg=__1Sp4yRw7-Z4ylDOwtWW7LltKOpk=&h=312&w=400&sz=139&hl=en&start=15&tbnid=8iW_ZaGgATzs3M:&tbnh=97&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpeafowl%2Bchick%2Bpictures%26gbv%3D2% 26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

Interesting link. It’s almost like by wild turkeys, their primary wing feathers grow first and fast and within 8 to 10 days they can follow the mother into the trees.

Reeves
03-03-2009, 08:32 PM
You would be correct !
I just used a Peachick as one example.

Valley Quail chicks (as well as all other Quail species) can fly very well when they are the size of a toonie. They can fly through a chain link fence like it isn't there !

Dirty
03-03-2009, 10:06 PM
My grouse ID is good, don't worry. That looks like a really light coloured sprucie. The difference between our spruce and ruffed is night and day, literally. Ruffies are light or reddish and all the sprucies I have ever seen have been black as night. No, of course I don't have pics. Nobody ever does when they really need to prove their point, do they :lol: Chit
Apparently your grouse identification isn't that good.
I win I the smartest I know how to use google images I want a trophy

ElkMasterC
03-03-2009, 10:26 PM
Sorry to tell you, but in the top picture you have: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/015/galleries/photos/CPW_COVERBlue-Grouse/image_preview&imgrefurl=http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/015/galleries/photos/CPW_COVERBlue-Grouse&usg=__xJnYG5GEcncy0MIVEEbNuyjZDBE=&h=325&w=400&sz=34&hl=en&start=4&tbnid=9bXBYbv7KEKmbM:&tbnh=101&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3DDusky%2BBlue%2BGrouse%26gbv%3D2%26hl% 3Den%26sa%3DG


I have to disagree.



Edit: DAMN, I knew I'd get sucked into this thread!!!

ElkMasterC
03-03-2009, 10:43 PM
http://snydersgrousepark.com/files/QuickSiteImages/62372142_u2W56ICS_SpruceGrouseMaleFalcipenniscanad ensisTiagasubspecies.jpg


Franklin's grouse, also known as Spruce or Fool's hens.
I think what PGK has there are two male Frankies.
I'd bet his gun on it.


http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg126/Tako870/Hunting06-JL01.jpg

PGK
03-03-2009, 10:57 PM
Thanks EMC. I know what I shot, and I know where I shot them, which is the period at the end of the sentence. I don't want to start a shit slinging thread, so I'd prefer if it just got left alone.

ElkMasterC
03-03-2009, 11:19 PM
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0056a.jpg

That's a Fool hen with her chick, guys...wtf?

**Rubbing eyes**


Don't MAKE me read this whole thread!

Look at this: (female with chick)

http://www.northbirding.com/rbaetsen/spruce/spruce.htm

And this: (The female)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spruce_Grouse

beastman
03-04-2009, 12:13 AM
Sorry to tell you, but in the top picture you have: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/015/galleries/photos/CPW_COVERBlue-Grouse/image_preview&imgrefurl=http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/015/galleries/photos/CPW_COVERBlue-Grouse&usg=__xJnYG5GEcncy0MIVEEbNuyjZDBE=&h=325&w=400&sz=34&hl=en&start=4&tbnid=9bXBYbv7KEKmbM:&tbnh=101&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3DDusky%2BBlue%2BGrouse%26gbv%3D2%26hl% 3Den%26sa%3DG

sorry to tell you but,
you sir are.............WRONG.

Mr. Dean
03-04-2009, 12:44 AM
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSC_0056a.jpg

That's a Fool hen with her chick, guys...wtf?

**Rubbing eyes**


Don't MAKE me read this whole thread!

Look at this: (female with chick)

http://www.northbirding.com/rbaetsen/spruce/spruce.htm

And this: (The female)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spruce_Grouse


EMC, I'm seeing the same species of bird that only *looks* different, because of the light it's standing in.

Clarity (as I got confused) - Spruce & "Fools Hen", are the same bird.

Mr. Dean
03-04-2009, 12:47 AM
PGK;

I can't really tell what your top photo is - But, Blue chicks kinda look similar to Spruce chicks....

ElkMasterC
03-04-2009, 12:57 AM
EMC, I'm seeing the same species of bird that only *looks* different, because of the light it's standing in.

Clarity (as I got confused) - Spruce & "Fools Hen", are the same bird.

Ed Zachary. I'm saying it's a Spruce grouse Clan. Not Willow, not Blue, and no adoption papers.

Spruce, Fools and Franklin's..same bird

Blue, subspecies Dusky and Sooty, same bird (legally)

Ruffed grouse, willow grouse, same bird. (Commonly)

Mr. Dean
03-04-2009, 01:05 AM
Ed Zachary. I'm saying it's a Spruce grouse Clan. Not Willow, not Blue, and no adoption papers.






Old news. :razz:

Mr. Dean
03-04-2009, 01:15 AM
PGK. The more I think about it, the more inclined I am to believe that you were studying Blue Grouse Chicks with their natural mothers.

In all reality, it's a common mistake to 'F' up on grouse ID's. I've been there, done that too. :redface:




But you don't get the points that I was awarded for trying to :shock:POACH:shock: a Bobcat. :lol: :razz: :lol:


.

ElkMasterC
03-04-2009, 01:23 AM
Old news. :razz:

I'm sorry, I'm lost.

At what point did you, or Dusty, or anyone unequivocally state that these were Spruce grouse Chicks and a hen?
I saw "Ruffie...blue, Dusky,(Not Dusty) Sooty, Willow, blah blah"
Quote the thread!
Old news indeed.
Harumppph!

Mr. Dean
03-04-2009, 01:34 AM
I'm sorry, I'm lost.

At what point did you, or Dusty, or anyone unequivocally state that these were Spruce grouse Chicks and a hen?
I saw "Ruffie...blue, Dusky,(Not Dusty) Sooty, Willow, blah blah"
Quote the thread!
Old news indeed.
Harumppph!


Somewhere about, here:


3-4 days makes up for that much difference. That's nearly unbelievable!


One of Dirty's samples kinda shows a natural transition between the 2 of mine - I'll roll over and say that your right; these are 2 Sprucies.


Read the thread. I'm not "Room Service"! :lol:

It's taken on some "syndrome" now that can only be explained by reading...

PGK
03-04-2009, 01:34 AM
I think I know what a ruffie looks like Mr Dean.

Sorry, I said I'm not participating in a shit slinging contest. If you think thats a blue grouse, I suggest you come up and shoot one yourself, then take a look at the funny little red comb over the eye that I was taught IDed a spruce grouse from a blue. Ruffies looking nothing similar to blues, to me, anyway. That, and all the blues I have ever seen have been well over 18'' tall.....thats a hard bird to mis-ID.

I'm pretty sure all your southern birds are just a hell of a lot lighter in colour than our sprucies. We used to call them 'black' chickens for a reason.....

Plus, the bird in your pic is a hen, the birds in my pic are both cocks.

Plus, there are no blue grouse within a hundred miles of where I killed those two.

Here's some more cannon fodder.....take a look at my birds, and take a look at this guy....
http://fwp.mt.gov/mtoutdoors/images/Portraits/SpruceGrouse.jpg

Then take a look at this Blue
http://i.pbase.com/o6/97/484697/1/77264829.7RF5SEK2.417041107bluegrouseweb.jpg

All in all, a good educational thread, except for Reeves basically calling me an idiot...

ElkMasterC
03-04-2009, 01:38 AM
'Bout damn time.......ya gotta be a proofreader to find any facts in your threads.
Ya lost me after the 10th page of "Is it a Mulie"..not sure which thread it was tho, One two or twelve.

Mr. Dean
03-04-2009, 01:41 AM
My hypothesis is based on your chicks description and that these posted birds are 'different'. I can't say what the dead ones are because of the pic (said that already).

I don't think we're stirring shit. I think we're on a learning curve.


Drop the 'tude, Dude. :smile:

PGK
03-04-2009, 01:47 AM
Well, you loan me your camera in May, because mine does not take good pictures of baby grouse at any kind of distance, and I will return it in August, and we'll see what kind of notes we can compare! :tongue:
:biggrin:

Mr. Dean
03-04-2009, 02:00 AM
Well, you loan me your camera in May, because mine does not take good pictures of baby grouse at any kind of distance, and I will return it in August, and we'll see what kind of notes we can compare! :tongue:
:biggrin:

:idea: :idea:

Get one of them disposable 35mm print jobbys and use the stupid flash that comes with it, for everything.... The pics are far from being great, but they're 'decent'. Once scanned and cropped,,, not baaad IMO.

(Good advice, not sarcasm)

(oops) I got all screwed up and misread some info.... I'm gonna delete my post of your pic with mine - Sorry.

Reeves
03-04-2009, 08:20 AM
I owe PGK an apology (and anyone else I lead down the wrong path) !
The picture of the two males with the shot gun (top one pages back)
are in fact Franklin, not Blue Grouse.
Sorry about that ! :redface:

But the chick pictures on page one are Spruce Grouse.
Ruffed lack the dark chocolate spot on the top of the head.
Blue chicks look so completely different, they cannot be mistaken.

Mr. Dean
03-04-2009, 10:06 AM
Blue chicks look so completely different, they cannot be mistaken.


I dunno how you "Bird" people do it (???????) I couldn't make that statement if a gun were held to my head.

In my eyes, this 'lill F'ker looks SO much like one of mine (bottom pic), that 3 days ago, I thought it to be a Blue. Hence the thread.

(Blue grouse chick) See full size image (http://yosemite.org/naturenotes/images/blue_grouse_chick_6442.jpg)

But you're correct. Its missing the dark spot but to my untrained eye.....


Reeve's, welcome to the net - A world that where 'Eating Crow' is perfectly acceptable AND good to see, when necessary.... Tastes like chicken, eh. :lol:

At least YOU didn't try poaching a Bobcat. :wink:

Hotwheels81
03-04-2009, 10:32 AM
and just to spice things up... moisture on feathers darkens them so true colour is hard to see... getting an accurate ID on birds is not always easy but some great pic's in the thread!!

Mr. Dean
03-04-2009, 11:45 AM
Hey, PGK!

Did you do sumthin' to your pic's this AM?


I went in here with the thought of grabbing one to re-edit, in order that I could see it better. Alas, no need - Looky MUCH better.

Dirty
03-04-2009, 01:25 PM
I dunno how you "Bird" people do it (???????) I couldn't make that statement if a gun were held to my head.

In my eyes, this 'lill F'ker looks SO much like one of mine (bottom pic), that 3 days ago, I thought it to be a Blue. Hence the thread.

(Blue grouse chick) See full size image (http://yosemite.org/naturenotes/images/blue_grouse_chick_6442.jpg)

But you're correct. Its missing the dark spot but to my untrained eye.....


Reeve's, welcome to the net - A world that where 'Eating Crow' is perfectly acceptable AND good to see, when necessary.... Tastes like chicken, eh. :lol:

At least YOU didn't try poaching a Bobcat. :wink:


With the bird identification it is the small details that count. Look at your blue chick. It has spots all over it's head like it is part Leopard for God's sake.

PS- Where the hell is my freakin' trophy.

Reeves
03-04-2009, 02:00 PM
PS- Where the hell is my freakin' trophy.

As soon as I can find out where to buy the door knocker, I'll send you one.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/DerrickJB/doorknocker.jpg

duckhunt
03-04-2009, 03:13 PM
cute when there little but as soon as there full grown you think "mmm tasty"

ElkMasterC
03-04-2009, 03:17 PM
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/DerrickJB/doorknocker.jpg


cute when there little but as soon as there full grown you think "mmm tasty"


Don't quite know how to take that.

duckhunt
03-04-2009, 06:10 PM
The grouse!!! lol:biggrin:

PGK
03-04-2009, 06:39 PM
Hey, PGK!

Did you do sumthin' to your pic's this AM?


I went in here with the thought of grabbing one to re-edit, in order that I could see it better. Alas, no need - Looky MUCH better.

Might just have been all the rye you had last night. Nope, didnt touch em.

Mr. Dean
03-04-2009, 07:14 PM
Hmmmmmmmmm


You might be right. :razz:

But I dothinkso. :confused:

Mr. Dean
03-05-2009, 10:39 AM
This just in....


I have an email that was forwarded to me, from a well established breeder. It goes on to state that my 'questionable' chick (upper pic, opening post) is in fact a Franklin (Spruce) Grouse.


I'm amazed at how a "stupid question" on 'lill 'ole HBC, gets world wide recognition!

Cool. :cool:

2slow
03-05-2009, 02:11 PM
Interesting read that's for sure. I think the only real conclusion we can all make is that this is obviously a hybrid......:biggrin:

Mr. Dean
03-05-2009, 02:19 PM
Interesting read that's for sure. I think the only real conclusion we can all make is that this is obviously a hybrid......:biggrin:

OR because they are all genetically linked, there's only one species.
OR because of locale/geography, its a swan. :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Dannybuoy
03-05-2009, 04:15 PM
Interesting read that's for sure. I think the only real conclusion we can all make is that this is obviously a hybrid......:biggrin:
Hmm I was thinking the real conclusion is Mr Dean is going stir-crazy !
Just kidding Mr Dean .... 8)

quackquackbang
03-05-2009, 05:28 PM
looks like ruffed grouse to me also! spruce grouse and partridge have darker feathers! but as chicks the look very similar!

beastman
03-05-2009, 06:30 PM
This just in....


I have an email that was forwarded to me, from a well established breeder. It goes on to state that my 'questionable' chick (upper pic, opening post) is in fact a Franklin (Spruce) Grouse.


I'm amazed at how a "stupid question" on 'lill 'ole HBC, gets world wide recognition!

Cool. :cool:

wow.....you never give up.
So I wonder if this bird 'expert' is as credible as your last hero or 'bird freak' as you put it,you know,the one who admitted he was wrong a few pages ago.........

give it a rest man,they are ruffies.

Mr. Dean
03-05-2009, 07:02 PM
wow.....you never give up.
So I wonder if this bird 'expert' is as credible as your last hero or 'bird freak' as you put it,you know,the one who admitted he was wrong a few pages ago.........


I'll put stock in their credentials, over yours, any day of the week. Especially when I see this statement:
give it a rest man,they are ruffies The choice is eassssy.


That's some good material there, Bud. HILARIOUS! :lol: :lol:


Q. You've never been wrong before or is it that you never admit to being wrong?

Cheers.

lilhoss
03-05-2009, 07:59 PM
Went back and looked at Mr.Dean's pictures, under the "show us your bird pics" and you can clearly see that coloured chick(the top one) & the hen, are indeed a spruce/franklin.I take back my initial response and go with top one spruce/franklin,and bottom one willow,ruffed.

Reeves
03-05-2009, 09:30 PM
Dean

I think the folks here drink water off of the north slopes ! :biggrin:

The e-mail Dean spoke of is via me. I e-mailed the worlds premier breeder of Grouse, asking him to look at the pictures of the chicks.
Both are Franklin Spruce Grouse. They are about 4 days apart in growth.

Although I do not raise Grouse, I do and have raised a good number of Pheasant species over the years. My Father raised them as well.
So my experience with Pheasants goes back beyond my 53 years !

The night I told PGK he had it wrong, that the birds he had were Dusky Blues, I just glanced real quick (also had a few beers) and posted as I did.
Next day I looked again and saw my mistake, and posted an apology to PGK, and to all others.