The Oregon Ruffed Grouse 



cock; and there is no reason to suppose that the supply will not last in- 

 definitely, if campers and hunters will observe the excellent laws at present 

 in force. 



No. 316 



Oregon Ruffed Grouse 



A. O. U. No. 300c. Bonasa umbellus sabini (Douglas). 



Synonyms. — "Pheasant." Bush Pheasant. "Partridge." Ruffed Grouse. 

 Drummer. Red-Tail. 



Description. — Adult male: Neck-tufts of lengthened feathers glossy black; 

 above rich rusty brown (Sanford's brown to auburn), varied in endless pattern by 

 black and ochraceous markings and ashy skirtings; tail normally color of back, but 

 sometimes more extensively ashy or ochraceous gray, crossed by six or seven narrow 

 bands and one broad subterminal band of black, shadowed by ochraceous (or gray); 

 throat warm buff, nearly immaculate; remaining underparts mixed white and buff, 

 heavily barred with tawny or warm brown, each bar bordered narrowly with dusky, 

 the brown or dusky prevailing on chest; marks on flanks entirely dark brown or blackish. 

 Bill brownish above, yellow below; feet brownish; the toes heavily pectinated on both 

 edges. Adult female: Similar to male, but smaller, and neck-tufts much reduced in 

 size. Immature birds lack the neck-tufts. Chicks are dull sulphur-yellow below, and 

 auburn, almost immaculate, above; a strong stripe of blackish on side of head and 

 neck from eye — curiously forecasting the distinctive black neck-ruff of adult. Length: 

 406.4-457.2 (16.00-18.00); av. of 3 adult males from Siskiyou County: wing 193.04 

 (7.60); tail 145 (5.71); bill 15 (.59); females smaller. 



Recognition Marks. — Little hawk to crow size; neck-ruffs and highly variegated 

 rusty brown coloration unmistakable; drumming notes of male. 



Nesting. — Nest: A slight depression at base of tree or bush-clump in low woods, 

 sparingly lined with twigs and dead leaves. Eggs: 8-14; creamy white or pinkish 

 buff, unmarked or sparingly speckled with reddish brown or brownish drab. (Eggs of 

 B. u. sabini average ruddier in coloration than those of other forms of the Ruffed 

 Grouse). Av. size 41.2 x 30.8 (1.62 x 1.21). Season: May; one brood. 



Range of Bonasa umbellus. — Wooded districts of the United States and Canada 

 from Norton Sound, Alaska, and central Yukon, central Keewatin, southern Ungava, 

 and Nova Scotia, south to northern California, Colorado, northern Arkansas, and 

 Virginia; and in the Alleghany Mountains to Georgia. 



Range of B. u. sabini. — Pacific Coast district from southern Alaska to north- 

 western California. 



Distribution in California. — Resident locally on valley floors of the extreme 

 northwestern humid district south to Humboldt Bay and east to the Siskiyou Moun- 

 tains. 



Authorities. — Douglas (Tetrao sabini), Trans. Linn. Soc. London, vol. xvi., 

 1829, p. 137 (orig. desc. ; n. w. America, from Cape Mendocino to Vancouver Id.); 

 Townsend, Auk, vol. iii., 1886, p. 491 (Humboldt Bay); Anderson and Grinnell, Proc. 

 Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1903, p. 6 (Siskiyou Mts.). 



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