Four grouse species are native to Washington in addition to sage and sharp-tailed grouse. The large blue grouse inhabits alpine/ sub-alpine forests in western Washington and shrubsteppe/alpine forests in eastern Washington. Although some blue grouse are resident at upper elevations, most migrate between low elevation breeding ranges and high elevation winter sites. They have a diet of leaves, flowers, and insects during summer and conifer needles (like Douglas fir) during winter. Males perform a ‘hooting’ display on breeding territories in which they inflate cervical apteria, similar to the displays of prairie grouse.	Blue Grouse
The medium-sized ruffed grouse is common in deciduous and mixed deciduous/coniferous forests, thickets, and stream courses containing birch, alder, and/or poplar. They are found throughout Washington except in large areas of shrubsteppe. They have a diet of berries, fruits, and leaves during summer and buds, catkins, and twigs of deciduous trees/shrubs during winter. Male ruffed grouse perform a ‘drumming’ display on breeding territories in which they rapidly beat their wings, usually while standing on a log.	Ruffed Grouse
The medium-sized spruce grouse is common in fire-adapted pine-spruce forests on the upper east slopes of the Cascades and the high mountains of northern Washington. The greatest densities occur in young stands of dense lodgepole pine with a well-developed under story of spruce, fir, and/or shrubs. Spruce grouse forage primarily on pine needles during winter and forbs and insects during summer. Males perform a ‘wing-clapping’ display on breeding territories in which they clap their wings twice behind their backs in mid-flight immediately prior to landing on the ground.	Spruce Grouse
The small white-tailed ptarmigan is localized in the rocky, moist alpine tundra habitats of the higher Cascade Mountains of western and northern Washington. Although a common winter diet item in other regions is willow, ptarmigan in Washington probably eat more conifer leaves. The white-tailed ptarmigan is the only monogamous species of grouse in Washington. Males ‘guard’ females and territories by performing ‘flight screams’ and ‘challenge calls’.	White-tailed Ptarmigan