Forty some years ago I was hiking at or just above timberline when, for
the first time, I heard a very low, soft and pulsating,
"Hoo-Hoo-Hoo-Hoo-Hoo." The wise old woodsmen in our party told me it was
a "Sooty Grouse." I later looked for such a critter in field guides, but
could never find any Grouse with that name, although it was mentioned in
several early accounts of Cascade woodsmen.. (Was pleased to recently
discover that Sibley shows the Sooty as a subspecies of the Blue.)

Over the next twenty or more years, I heard that distinctive sound on
many, many occasions. Always five "Hoo's," never four nor six, although
the fifth was sometimes weaker. And several times I was able to observe
these guys very closely; even at eye-level when they were perched twenty
feet or so up a tree below my level. Even got several nice closeup
non-telephoto 35mm shots. Recall they were most often seen/heard in or
near the topmost trees in a forested hillside.

Seems most encounters were in the morning or evening, while climbing
toward or descending from alpine summits. Haven't bagged that many
summits lately, so it has been some time since I've seen or heard a
"Sooty." But their sound is unlike any other, and absolutely
unforgettable.

John Pollock
North Matthews Beach

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