The Wonders of God’s Creation
The differences between some of the grouse species of America are outlined below:
Prairie grouse: This one is a resident of the Sierra Mountains of California. It is speckled brown over most of its body, but with a cottony-white underlayer showing when it ruffles its feathers. It has a blue-black color behind its neck and down both sides. In the summer months it lives on the lower slopes of the mountains where a variety of food is available. In winter it moves into the forests higher up. Its diet there is limited pretty much to fir needles.
Sage grouse: As its name implies, this grouse prefers living in sagebrush country. It is one of the largest and appears even larger during mating dances when males puff out their pretty white body feathers while standing upright. At the same time their huge tail feathers, brown with white cross stripes and shaped like arrows, are raised skyward — a marvelous sight. The hens are more plain in their brown and white feathers.
Sharptailed grouse: These live in the mid-west plains as well as in the foothills of mountains in Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington and on up into Canada. In Montana, nature lovers have provided an area called “Dancing Prairie” to protect and feed these pretty birds so their numbers will increase. Their food is mainly grain, buds and flowers.
Ruffed grouse: In the clothing industry the collars of jackets and coats are referred to as the “ruff,” and that is how this bird got its name. When males get into the excitement of their mating dances, the black feathers surrounding their necks billow out like an over-sized collar.
The clever and shrewd ruffed grouse, with its square tail, is one of the smaller species, but puts on the biggest mating display and makes the most noise. It lives on western mountain slopes during summer months, but drops down to lower elevations in winter where it feasts on leaves, fruits, oak buds, acorns, etc. In our next issue more details of this one will be given.
As we consider these unusual birds, let us think of what David said in Psalms 105:4,54Seek the Lord, and his strength: seek his face evermore. 5Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; (Psalm 105:4‑5), “Seek the Lord, and His strength: seek His face evermore. Remember His marvelous works that He hath done.” Looking closely at creation helps us to see a little of the wisdom and majesty of the One who created it all.
ML-05/28/1989