On August 14, Chris Gagnon hiked both North and South Hancock Mountains. On his way down from the summit of North Hancock, he found a young grouse sitting on the trail. It allowed him to get quite close, and he was able to get a photo of it with his cell phone. Unsure whether the bird was a Spruce or Ruffed Grouse, he posted the photo to the NH Birds Google Group, asking for feedback. Here is the photo:
The juvenile grouse on the trail. Photo by Chris Gagnon, 8-14-2025, North Hancock, NH.
The identification process proved interesting, as Chris received multiple replies. The overwhelming consensus was that the photo showed a young Spruce Grouse. This was based on location, behavior, and plumage as follows:
- Location: The bird was found at approximately 3,900 feet on North Hancock Mountain, well within the higher-elevation habitat favored by Spruce Grouse.
- Behavior: The grouse was unusually tame, remaining calmly on the trail and allowing Chris to approach closely for photographs—a behavior often associated with Spruce Grouse.
- Field marks: The bird showed strong barring across the breast, overall darker developing plumage, and lacked the crest typically seen on young Ruffed Grouse.
Enjoy this field note? Check out other field notes from Fall 2025!
- A Peregrine Falcon on the Rocks: Questions Anyone? by Bruce Conti
- A Curious Eastern Bluebird Nest by Alison Rhodes
- A Congregation of Great Egrets by Karen Dudra
- A Hummingbird Named Hoglet by Evy Nathan
Want even more? Visit our “From the Field” page.