The Granite State is home to not just the popular ruffed grouse, but also the elusive spruce grouse. The spruce grouse is described as audacious and almost tame, often finding humans in their habitat rather than the other way around. They have striking plumage with red combs on their eyes and distinct brown and white stripes on their chest.
The spruce grouse is native to eastern Canada and is on the southern edge of their range in New Hampshire and Vermont. They prefer 20-50 year old spruce and fir forests with dense structures for hiding. These birds benefit from forests regenerated by spruce budworm outbreaks and subsequent salvage logging.
With climate change affecting forest habitats and increasing predator exposure due to shallower snow depths, the future of the spruce grouse is uncertain. It is important to monitor these populations and their forest environments, as they are emblematic of species in northern zones and forests.
The spruce grouse’s unique characteristics and habitat preferences make it a fascinating bird to study and protect in New Hampshire. These birds are an important part of the ecosystem, and their survival is vital to maintaining biodiversity in the region.
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