First specimen records for Ruffed Grouse in Colorado

Authors

Clait E. Braun, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado
Renzo J. Delpiccolo, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Mesa, Colorado
Richard W. Hoffman, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado
Thomas E. Remington, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado

Abstract

We report the first specimen records for Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) collected in Colorado, provide the location, describe the habitat, and briefly discuss the rarity of this species within the state. Three Ruffed Grouse were collected, an adult male in September 1988 and a juvenile male and adult female in September 1990, on Hoy Mountain, Moffat County, Colorado, within 0.6 km of Utah. The habitat is primarily open Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) forest with scattered clumps of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) and Utah serviceberry (Amelanchier utahensis). Habitats to the north, east, and south are primarily dominated by sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) steppe and pionjuniper (Pinus spp.–Juniperus spp.) woodland. We hypothesize that natural expansion of Ruffed Grouse further east, north, and south is prohibited by unsuitable habitat exacerbated by the limited flight range capability of the species.

Recommended Citation

Braun, Clait E.; Delpiccolo, Renzo J.; Hoffman, Richard W.; and Remington, Thomas E. (2003) "First specimen records for Ruffed Grouse in Colorado," Western North American Naturalist: Vol. 63: No. 1, Article 13.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/wnan/vol63/iss1/13