What Type of Grouse is This?

[Uplandbum]

I never hunt grouse and rarely see them. I took this picture on Friday.

[npaull]

Looks like a sooty/dusky (formerly blue) to me. Where was this (will help some with ID)?

[Uplandbum]

It was in Douglas County near Wenatchee.

[bobcat]

Douglas county? Really? Sure looks like a blue grouse but I didn't think there were any on that side of the river.

[npaull]

Yeah, I think then that it's technically a dusky grouse (again, the species that was once "blue grouse" has split into two, because ornithologists seem to love to do that).

[Uplandbum]

I have hunted this place for 5 years for deer and chukar and have never seen a grouse. I was surprised as well.

[Tiger1358]

It's a blue/dusky grouse.

Did you get him?

[DOUBLELUNG]

I know a few places in Douglas County with blue/dusky grouse, mainly timber patches high in the breaks above the Columbia.  That's a male.

[Pegasus]

Hopefully its a dead grouse.

[Hilltop123]

Wow, guess dad was right. " Grouse are never where they are suppose to be, they are where you find them."