BIRDS OF OREGON 



now included in the State. Suckley (1860) reported it from the vicinity 

 of The Dalles, but a careful reading of the text indicates that this reference 

 is entirely to the present State of Washington, probably in the vicinity 

 of Mount Adams. 



Gray Ruffed Grouse: 



Bonasa umbellus umbelloides (Douglas) 



DESCRIPTION. "Adult male: Ruffs black, with bluish green gloss to tips; upper parts 

 gray, whole surface finely mottled gray and black, more or less washed with rufous, 

 blotched with black, and streaked with white; tail always gray, with broad black 

 subterminal band; under parts white and buffy, barred with brown. Adult female: 

 similar but smaller, with neck tufts rudimentary or obsolete. Young: similar to 

 adult female, but browner, barring paler, less distinct, dim white and neck tufts 

 wanting." (Bailey) Douny young: Bent describes the plumage of the eastern Ruffed 

 Grouse chick, which is very similar to this species, as follows: "In the ruffed grouse 

 chick the entire crown and back are 'tawny' or 'russet,' darkest on the back and 

 rump, shading off to 'pale ochraceous-buff' on the sides of the head, chest, and 

 flanks; the underparts are pale yellow, shading off to yellowish white on the chin 

 and belly; there is a black auricular patch, but no other spotting on the head." 

 Si%e-' "Length 15.50-19.00, wing 7.00-7.50, tail 5.50-7.00." (Bailey) Nest: A 

 shallow depression, usually at the foot of a tree, lined with leaves or other con- 

 venient dry vegetation. Eggs: 9 to 14, buff to cinnamon buff, sometimes spotted 

 with dots of dull clay color or buff. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Ranges from Alberta and Mackenzie south to northeastern 

 Oregon, northern Utah, northern Colorado, and South Dakota. In Oregon: Resident 

 of Blue Mountain area, including all Ruffed Grouse of Wallowa, Union, Baker, 

 Malheur, Harney, Crook, Grant, Wheeler, Morrow, and Umatilla Counties. (See 

 Figure 5.) 



THE GRAY RUFFED GROUSE is the pale-gray form of the Blue Mountain 

 section of Oregon, where it is quite common during the breeding season 



FIGURE 5. Distribution of Ruffed Grouse in Oregon: i, Gray Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa urn 

 bellus umbelloides}; 2., Oregon Ruffed Grouse (B. u. sabinf). 



