Dusky Grouse (Dendragapus obscurus) [XC320239]
by Patrice Mathieu from Rocky Mountain National Park, Larimer County, Colorado, United States (booming)
Dusky Grouse (Dendragapus obscurus) [XC361842]
by Kenny Frisch from Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP--South Rim, Montrose County, Colorado, United States (call, song, calls made whilst displaying and wing noises made by the male)
Subspecies
Dendragapus obscurus (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into Dusky Grouse (Dendragapus obscurus) and Sooty Grouse (Dendragapus fuliginosus) following AOU (2006).
Exceptional hybrids known with Spruce Grouse (Falcipennis canadensis), Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) and Sage Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). Western coast subspecies (sitkensis, fuliginosus, howardi, sierrae) formerly considered separate species, D. fuliginosus.
The following 8 subspecies are recognised:
sitkensis Swarth, 1921 - Alexander Archipelago (south-eastern Alaska) to Queen Charlotte Is (British Columbia). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Sooty Grouse (Dendragapus fuliginosus).
fuliginosus (Ridgway, 1873) - South-eastern Alaska to southern California. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Sooty Grouse (Dendragapus fuliginosus).
sierrae Chapman, 1904 - Inner coastal ranges from central Washington to California (Sierra Nevada). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Sooty Grouse (Dendragapus fuliginosus).
howardi Dickey and van Rossem, 1923 - California, from southern Sierra Nevada south to Tehachapi Mts and Mt Pinos. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Sooty Grouse (Dendragapus fuliginosus).
richardsonii (Douglas, 1829) - Southern Yukon and northern British Columbia through western Alberta and eastern British Columbia to northern Idaho and north-western Wyoming.
pallidus Swarth, 1931 - Southern British Columbia through eastern Washington to north-eastern Oregon.
obscurus (Say, 1823) - Rocky Mts from central Wyoming through Utah and Colorado south to northern Arizona and western New Mexico.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet