Free: Contests & Raffles.
Territorial proclamation by male blue grouse is achieved by a combinationof postures, vocalizations, and movements that are collectively calledhooting. In spite of reported differences in hooting behavior among differentpopulations, current evidence indicates that actual differences are few andtend to be quantitative rather than qualitative. Thus, the interior populations(dusky grouse) have much weaker hooting calls that are barely audiblemore than fifty yards away, whereas the coastal populations (sooty grouse)have strong hooting notes that carry several hundred yards. The formertypically call from the ground but may use trees, while the latter moreoften call from tree limbs. The gular sac of dusky grouse males is generallypurplish, while that of sooty grouse is more heavily wrinkled and yellowish.The eye-combs of dusky grouse are large and vary from yellow to a brightred under maximum stimulation; those of sooty grouse are smaller andusually are lemon yellow, but sometimes also become livid red (Bendelland Elliott, 1967).During hooting the male partially raises and spreads his tail and opensthe feathers of his neck to expose an oval gular sac that is surrounded bywhite-based neck feathers, forming a "rosette" pattern. Both wings areslightly drooped toward the ground. In this posture (called the "oblique"by Hjorth, 1970) the gular sac is partially inflated in a pulsing manner asup to seven but usually five (in the dusky grouse) or six (in the sooty grouse)hoot sounds are uttered in fairly rapid succession. These are repeated atfrequent intervals. Bent (1932) reported intervals of 12 to 36 seconds betweencall sequences of fuliginosus, Steward (1967) determined a mean intervalof 24.2 seconds in sitkensis, and Rogers (1968) noted intervals of from 6to 23 seconds for obscurus. Such hooting is uttered at various times duringthe day, but is most prevalent in early morning and again in late evening,primarily between 3 and 5 A.M. and again between 7 and 10 P.M. (Bendell,1955~)H. jorth (1970) noted that although in both subspecies groups thecall sequence lasts about three seconds, the fundamental frequencies ofdusky grouse calls (95 to 100 Hz.) are lower than those of sooty grouse(100 to 150 Hz.) and have much less amplitude. Males may periodicallymove about between hooting sites, and while walking they keep the headlow and the tail cocked and spread, exposing the spotted under tail coverts("display walking" of Hjorth, 1970).
I've heard blues make an anxious, moaning sound when they are hunkered down close by. This was broods in the early fall. Kind of like "mmmmmmmnnnnh!" I almost got one with my boot after hearing it make that sound, pinned the poor bugger's tail to the ground and he flew off without it.
Nice looking pup!
Nice looking dog. Are those pictures from the Toutle Unit?
Correct me please if I am incorrect...doesnt Grouse season start Sept 1st?
yea he said he was out hikin with the dog and shot them with his air shotgun kinda like an air guitar
