Siberian Grouse

     The Siberian Grouse is a medium-sized Grouse mostly occurs in the forests of far eastern Russia and far north-eastern China. It’s very similar to the North American Spruce Grouse, to which it is closely related. But the Siberian grouse differs mainly in the pattern on the breast which is heavily mottled by white.

     The male Siberian grouse is mostly rich brown and black with heavy white barring on the underparts, belly and breast. His tail is short and dark with a broad whitish tip. The female Siberian grouse is paler, and is largely brownish to grey with extensive brown and white barring. Both sexes have a scarlet area above the eye, which becomes bright red in the male during courtship display.

     The female Siberian grouse lays 7 to 8 eggs and incubates them for almost 3 – 4 weeks. The brood stays with the mother until fall, when the nestlings become completely independent. Unfortunately, Siberian grouse are in the first stage of being a threatened species, and that’s mainly due to habitat loss.

 

Place of originRussia and China
UsePreservation
Weight650 – 750 g
Egg colorPale white with reddish markings

 

Falcipennis falcipennis displaying - Siberian Grouse
The male Siberian Grouse by Franz Hafner
Falcipennis falcipennis Female - Siberian Grouse
The female Siberian Grouse by Franz Hafner
Falcipennis falcipennis   Female at nest with newly hatched chicks 1 - Siberian Grouse
A female Siberian Grouse with her chicks by Franz Hafner