Some consider grouse as a family Tetraonidae,

Grouse inhabit temperate and subarctic regions of the northern hemisphere. They are heavily built like other Galliformes and range from 31-95 cm. Their legs are feathered to the toes, and in winter the toes too have feathers or small scales on the sides, an adaptation for walking on snow and burrowing into it for shelter. Unlike other Galliformes, they have no spurs. All grouse spend most of their time on the ground, though when alarmed, they may take off in a flurry and go into a long glide. These birds feed mainly on vegetation—buds, catkins, leaves, and twigs. Several of the forest-living species are notable for eating large quantities of conifer needles, which most other vertebrates refuse.


Genus Bonasa

Grouse, Ruffed Bonasa umbellus   Found: North America
Photographed by: 1, 2) Alan D Wilson on Horsefly Peninsula, Quesnel Lake, British Columbia



Genus Centrocercus

Grouse, Greater Sage- also Sage Grouse  Centrocercus urophasianus Found: North America
Photographed by:  1, 2, 3) Alan D Wilson near Ten Sleep, Wyoming   4) Charlie Westerinen - Ruby Marsh in Nevada.
1, 2) Male  3, 4) female


Grouse, Gunnison Sage- Centrocercus minimus   Found: North America
Photographed by: 1) US Dept. of Interior  2) Bryant Olsen - Utah



Genus Dendragapus
Dusky Grouse and Sooty Grouse were formerly considered one species, the Blue Grouse.

Grouse, Dusky Dendragapus obscurus Found: Rocky Mountains of North America
Photographed by:  1) USNPS   2) Alan D. Wilson - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming  3) S. King, USNPS


Grouse, Sooty Dendragapus fuliginosus Found: Pacific Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevadas of North America
Photographed by: 1, 2, 4) Walter Siegmund  3) Yathin
1, 2) Male 3, 4) Female



Genus Falcipennis

Grouse, Spruce Falcipennis canadensis   Found: North America
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dick - Maine   3) Dick  4) Dick - Alaska



Genus Tetrao

Grouse, Black  Tetrao tetrix   Found: Europe, Asia
Photographed by: 1) Steve Garvie - Scotland  2) Jniemenmaa
1) Male  2) Female


Grouse, Wood also Capercaillie  Tetrao urogallus   Found: Europe, Asia
Photographed by: 1) Woodwalker   2) Honza Sterba
1) Male  2) Female




Genus Tympanuchus

Grouse, Sharp-tailed  Tympanuchus phasianellus  Found: North Americaa
Photographed by: Alan D. Wilson - Custer State Park, South Dakota
4) Female


Prairie-Chicken, Lesser  Tympanuchus pallidicinctus Found: North America 
Photographed by:  1) Dominic Sherony 

Ptarmigans belong to genus  Lagopus. There are three species: the rock, white-tailed, and willow ptarmigans. The red ptarmigan was once considered a seperate species, but now is considered a subspecies of the willow ptarmigan. All of the species are circumpolar. Part or all of their plumage becomes white in the snow season to provide camouflage. As with game birds in general, most of the care of the young is done by the females.


Genus Lagopus

Ptarmigan, Rock  Lagopus muta Found: North America, Europe
Photographed by: 1) Jan Frode Haugseth - Norway  2, 3) Alpsdake
1) Spring plumage, female in front  2) Female  3) Male



Ptarmigan, White-tailed Lagopus leucurus   Found: North America
Photographed by: John Hill - Alberta Canada


Ptarmigan, Willow  also Willow Grouse Lagopus lagopus   Found: North America, Europe, Asia
Photographed by: 1) Derek Ramsey 2) Joe Dsliva  3) Dick Daniels - Denali National Park


Grouse, Red  also Red Ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus scoticus    Found: Great Britain
Once considered a separate species, now a subspecies of the willow grouse.
Photographed by:  1) Dick Daniels - Scotland