62 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 73 



migrants arrive in the Western Upland about 5-15 March and the Northern 

 Highland 25 March to 5 April. Peak abundance through the Valley occurs 

 10-25 April. Fall migration begins in mid-August and peak abundance 

 occurs 1-15 September. Most fall migrants have departed the Northern 

 Highland by 15 October and elsewhere by 15 November. 



Nesting Season Distribution: Common nesting species in the Western 

 Upland and Central Plain, uncommon and more local in the Northern 

 Highland. 



Winter: Casual midwinter resident in the Central Plain and Western Upland. 



Habitat: Primarily associated with scattered tree groves in agricultural 

 areas, brushy edges of deciduous forest, and Old Field Community in south- 

 ern areas. In the Northern Highland, American kestrels use edge situations 

 associated with agricultural clearings, and areas that are managed for wild- 

 life production. Wintering American kestrels are usually found along road- 

 sides hunting from transmission wires and occasionally near feeding sta- 

 tions in residential areas. 



FAMILY TETRAONIDAE: Grouse 



Spruce Grouse {Canachites canadensis) 



Status: Formerly a permanent resident, two recent records. 



Distribution: Scott (19436) reported that spruce grouse were last reported in 

 1928 or 1929 from the town of Dairyland (T. 43 N., R. 14 W.), Douglas 

 County. Scott beUeved that at one time this species probably occurred 

 throughout northern Wisconsin and south along the St. Croix River. The 

 presumed range in Wisconsin extended south to central Polk County. 

 Despite the presence of suitable spruce habitats in Pine County, this species 

 is not known south of central St. Louis County in Minnesota (Green and 

 Janssen 1975). 



On 26 May 1978, R. Hoffman (personal communication) observed one 

 spruce grouse in Sec. 33, T. 42 N., R. 15 W., Burnett County. Returning to 

 the same area on 4 September 1978, Hoffman again observed a single spruce 

 grouse. 



Habitat: Scott (19436) reported that spruce grouse are "almost always 

 found only in spruce-balsam swamps" (= Lowland Coniferous Forest). 



Ruffed Grouse {Bonasa umhellus) 

 Status: Regular permanent resident. 



Distribution: Common resident in the Northern Highland and in the north- 

 ern half of the Central Plain. Fairly common in the oak forests of the Central 

 Plain and Western Upland. Breeding populations experience yearly fluctua- 



