Sooty Grouse

Natural History

Sooty Grouse occupy a higher elevation range in the spring and summer, and retreat to lower elevations during the winter. This movement results in changes in diet as well. Winter diet consists of conifer needles, buds, and twigs. When spring approaches, they move to a more omnivorous diet of insects, flowers, and berries. They will accompany their diet with small gravel or stones to grind up food in their gizzard. During the breeding season, males display in trees and give off low pitched hoots while flapping their wings. Males do not gather in leks but will become aggressive to other males that enter their display territory. Females create ground nests away from the mating territory, that are usually covered overhead but sometimes exposed.