VOICE 99 



slateinent. Yet association with captive stock cannot help l)Ut impress one with the conver- 

 sational ability of a group of these birds. Here, at all seasons, "talking" seems to be enjoyed 

 in much the same manner as among a group of women around a bridge table. 



At the Research Center, the pens are seldom quiet during daylight hours. Accustomed to 

 the presence of man, the birds freely express their thoughts about the world in general and 

 their neighbors in particular. In fact, the regular attendants feel that, to some extent at 

 least, they begin to comprehend "grouse language." 



Observation under these conditions has revealed that the normal talking of undisturbed 

 birds in the main involves but a few basic sounds which are subjected to wide variations 

 as to pitch and inflection. In this way, however, they seem to be able to run the gamut of 

 emotional expression from satisfaction at having laid an egg to noisy indignation over real or 

 fancied mistreatment. 



The majority of these calls probably are much the same as those used by grouse in the 

 wild under similar circumstances. But observation of the latter in this respect is practically 

 impossible since one can rarely approach the birds close enough without alarming them. 

 Now and then, however, while driving along some old woods road in the fall or winter, small 

 companies have been found conversing contentedly as they fed along amongst the under- 

 brush. At the same time, it is probable that grouse in captivity indulge their abilities to a 

 much greater extent than do their wild cousins which are not particularly gregarious. In 

 fact, solitary individuals may utter few sounds. 



On the other hand, a number of vocal expressions have been encountered among wild birds 

 which are rarely heard at the Center, chiefly because the necessary circumstances are not 

 present. Perhaps the most noticeable and spectacular is that of the female when disturbed 

 at hatching time or while her brood is very young. On such occasions she emits a loud and 

 drawn-out nasal "squeal", apparently to distract the intruder's attention. If not satisfied with 

 the effect, she may also rush him, at the same time hissing angrily. 



In quieting the occasional peeping of chicks in hiding, the hen resorts to a "scolding" 

 call resembling that of a catbird but with a downward inflection. In quality it is more like 

 a gentle but firm reminder than a command. To collect her brood after danger is past, she 

 uses a low, humming call, something like cooo-coo-coo-coo. 



Among adults in general, in addition to the startled, "pete-pete-pete-pete— pete" of a bird 

 just before flushing, is an expression of "curiosity" which is not so frequently heard. Many 

 a "sit-on-a-stump-and-wait" deer hunter, however, has seen a grouse jump up on a log, and 

 chirp, as if to say "what's all this about?", giving its partly spread tail a downward flirt at 

 the same time. This call closely resembles a common note of the red squirrel and may be 

 likened to "perrrck" given with a rising inflection. 



\ 



Inquiry Distress Warning 



FIGURE 12. GROUSE CHICK CALLS 



