Subject: [Tweeters] Re: Blue Grouse "phylogeographic structure"
Date: Jul 7 07:01:30 2006
From: Mike Patterson - celata at pacifier.com


The paper on the genetic relationships that ultimately led to
the re-splitting of the Blue Grouse Complex is available online.
It includes a nice range map that places the zone of sympatry dead
center in Northern Washington and straight up through BC where
they did find "gene flow". Strict reproductive isolation is NOT
a factor in species recognition any more.

G. F. Barrowclough, J. G. Groth, L. A. Mertz, R. J. Gutierrez 2004.
Phylogeographic structure, gene flow and species status in blue grouse
(Dendragapus obscurus). Molecular Ecol. 13:1911-1922. [online at:
http://www.cnr.umn.edu/fwcb/research/Owls/lit%20folder/barrowclough%20et%20al.%202004.pdf ]

The Birds of North America account discribes the two forms as
follows:

Sooty Grouse (fuliginosus group).
Also referred to as ?coastal? group even though populations allied
with this group range quite far to the interior (e.g. to w. Nevada).
Resident Pacific coast and western mountain ranges, including Cascade-
Sierra Nevada axis and adjacent ranges east to w. Nevada . Compared to
Dusky Grouse, plumage averages darker; bare skin on male?s neck
(cervical apteria) yellow becoming thick with warty tubercles during
breeding season; feathers surrounding this area white with broad dark
tips; male songs typically comprise 6 notes that are relatively loud,
of higher frequency (Hz), and usually given from trees; both sexes
usually have 18 rectrices that are more rounded at tip and graduated
in length, producing somewhat more rounded tail shape (caution:
immatures have rounded rectrices and more graduated tail in both
subspecies groups); down on chicks reddish-brown on upperparts and
yellowish on supercillium and underparts (see plate in Moffitt 1938;
Fig. 45).

Dusky Grouse (obscurus group).
Also referred to as ?interior? group. Resident eastward and interior
to Sooty Grouse in Rocky Mtns. , interior northern coast ranges in
British Columbia , and e. slope Cascades of central Washington .
Compared to Sooty Grouse, plumage averages paler, especially in southern
populations; bare skin on side of male?s neck purplish-red and lacking
tubercules, feathers surrounding this area broadly white with narrower
dark tips; male songs typically comprise 5 notes that are relatively
soft (low intensity), of lower frequency (Hz), and usually given from
the ground; both sexes usually have 20 rectrices that are more truncate
and not graduated in length as adults; down on chicks more grayish-
brown above and whitish on supercillium and underparts (see plate in
Moffitt 1938; Fig. 45).

--
Mike Patterson
Astoria, OR
celata at pacifier.com

Why birders hate Cordilleran Flycatchers
http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/003981.html