Franklin's grouse
 

Franklin's grouse are a color phase of a Spruce grouse. I have never seen one but they are supposed to live along or in the mountains.

They don't have the brown tail band that Spruce grouse have instead have white spots on their upper tail coverts.

Anybody seen any when they've been out? Where might a guy encounter them? South or north mountains.

Thanks

I see them out here

when i am in the mountains

they are not common but are here

these pictures are at Maligne Lake Fisherman's Bay 8 1/2 miles down

also saw on the Mount Edith Cavell road in JNP


David :)

I've seen them often along the Icefield's Parkway (#93N), between Lake Louise & Jasper, in the spruce forests, usually at fairly high elevations. Bow Summit & Peyto Lake viewpoint trails, Banff NP & JNP Boundary (follow creek towards Mt Athabasca Peak to Boundary Lake), in the stunted forests right around the Icefield's Centre, and trails up Whistlers Peak. On the Wilcox Pass Trail, I've seen Franklin's and then big Blue grouse (now called the Dusky grouse), along with Ptarmigan - all on the same hike while gaining in elevation!

If these are Franklin grouse I have lots in the south. I have always called them spruce grouse

See lots of them here in the south, can’t remember seeing any other kind of spruce grouse down here

I am glad you posted this. Last fall I followed one on a road by the Hinton Airport and wasn't sure what it was.

here is the Spruce Grouse

it has the brown band on tail feathers

the Male has the dark breast feathers and the Red comb

hope this helps you id on them

Franklin Spruce Grouse has white bands on tail feathers and no brown band

David:)

Thanks guys for all your help. I'd like to get one this fall for my Alberta grouse collection.

'I've seen a lot of it in the south