What kind of grouse is this?

[asmith]

I believe this is a spruce grouse.  Can anyone help me identify it?

[full choke]

I believe this is a spruce grouse.  Can anyone help me identify it?

Hard to tell exactly from the pic- but I would agree. Spruce grouse.

[bornhunter]

If I was there it would be a dead grouse

[asmith]

If I was there it would be a dead grouse

Well, I'm in alaska and not for hunting! We did run one over though.  These things are everywhere on the dalton highway

[robodad]

Rock Ptarmigan ?

[asmith]

Rock Ptarmigan ?

That's what I originally thought, but after using my Google-fu and looking at pictures, it looks like a spruce.  But I'm still not sure

[Tracker0721]

Spruce is my vote with the white slash across the eye. I saw some last year and did a lot of looking up as everyone said we only had ruff and blue. Have a safe trip!

[Timberstalker]

Hard for me to tell, but it looks like it has the red under it’s eye. That’s a clear marker for a spruce grouse.

[boneaddict]

Quite a variety in color with Spruce.  They are quite common in that region and that grouse appears to be one.

Tracker....though not the most common by far, but we have Spruce grouse here in Washington as well.   

[asmith]

Hard for me to tell, but it looks like it has the red under it’s eye. That’s a clear marker for a spruce grouse.

No red on this one, just white

[Ruger]

That is a Spruce Grouse, from up there....  Not the greatest eating unless you soak them in some buttermilk or something to get rid of the spruce needle taste....  Ptarmigan would be a little more white on underbelly this time of year

[scottr]

is this near Davenport? hard to tell from photo but if so it might be a sharptail.

[asmith]

is this near Davenport? hard to tell from photo but if so it might be a sharptail.

No, I'm in alaska right now.  This was out on the dalton highway

[scottr]

No, I'm in alaska right now.  This was out on the dalton highway

Definitely not a sharptail 😂

[Sitka_Blacktail]

If it has a gold band on it's tail it's a spruce grouse, but I'm guessing a ruffed grouse which have gray bands on their tail.  And there is nothing wrong with a spruce grouse, eating wise.