Just a brief response to Mike Smith's good comments on grouse names. I'm
no expert on Spruce Grouse, but the only two times I've seen them they were
in stands of Engelmann spruce (admittedly mixed with other species), at
Sherman Pass and on the west fork of the Pasayten River.

And in many parts of their range in Alaska, Willow Ptarmigan are indeed in
the willow-fringed river bottoms and Rock Ptarmigan on the rocky hillsides.
You can almost identify ptarmigan by habitat--but not quite.

Dennis Paulson phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416