Fall diet of Blue Grouse in Oregon

Authors

John A. Crawford, Oregon State University, Corvallis
Walt Van Dyke, Oregon State University, Corvallis
S. Mark Meyers, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Enterprise, Oregon
Thomas F. Haensly, Oregon State University, Corvallis

Abstract

The early fall diet of Oregon blue grouse (Dendragapus obscurus pallidus) from Wallowa County, Oregon, was determined from 145 crops obtained during 1981 and 1982. Of more than 50 plant and animal foods in the diet, short-horned grasshoppers (Acrididae), prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola), yellow salsify (Tragopogon dubius), wild buck-wheat (Eriogonum spp.), and snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) occurred in 30% or more of the crops and collectively amounted to 68% of the diet by weight. Seven of the 12 most common foods were consumed differentially by the four sex and age classes of birds. Results indicated that blue grouse foraged in forest and grassland habitats.

Recommended Citation

Crawford, John A.; Van Dyke, Walt; Meyers, S. Mark; and Haensly, Thomas F. (1986) "Fall diet of Blue Grouse in Oregon," Great Basin Naturalist: Vol. 46: No. 1, Article 10.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn/vol46/iss1/10