Hi everyone! Today’s bird is the “spruce grouse” and the pic above is a male trying to attract a nearby female. These birds can be found mainly in coniferous forests from Alaska through every Canadian province and territory, plus a few of the northern U.S. states. They mainly eat the needles of jack pine, white spruce, black spruce and a few others. They can hold 10% of their body weight of food in their crop, an organ between their throat and stomach. Then they can digest it later in a safer location or while sleeping on a cold winter night. They are non migratory even in their furthest north boundaries. The female lays up to 9 eggs, on the ground, usually at the base of a tree with branches that hang to the ground. They prefer areas of younger trees for living. During the summer they will eat other things such as small insects, berries, leaves and flowers. Usually when danger approaches they stay motionless and won’t fly until absolutely necessary. Have a wonderful day everyone and God bless!

Steve and Muffin.

©2021 Steve McLeod.