Bird
Oregon Ruffed Grouse
Bonasa umbellus sabini
Photo: Mdf, CC BY-SA 3.0
Common Names
Pheasant / Prairie Hen
Habitat
Dense deciduous and mixed forests of the Pacific Northwest
First Observed
1806-02-05
Observed At
Fort Clatsop, near present-day Astoria, Oregon
Lewis described the Oregon ruffed grouse at Fort Clatsop on February 5, 1806, when Reubin Field returned from a hunt with “a phesant which differed but little from those common to the Atlantic states.” Elliott Coues, the ornithologist who edited the Lewis and Clark journals in 1893, identified this as the Oregon ruffed grouse, a Pacific Northwest subspecies. Lewis carefully noted the subtle differences from the eastern bird in plumage coloration.
Journal Excerpt
Lewis, February 5, 1806: "Reubin Fields returned this evening… he had killed a phesant which differed but little from those common to the Atlantic states; its plumage was of the same mixture of brown and white as the pheasant of the U'States."
Journal References
15 journal entries mention Oregon Ruffed Grouse
Aug
8
1804
Lewis: August 8, 1804
...were then in
latitude 41° some minutes.
The prarie hen or grouse, was seen in the praries between the Missouri and
the river platte
Sep
11
1804
Clark: September 11, 1804
...ral foxes Several Villages of Prarie dogs, and a
number of Grouse
Sep
21
1804
Clark: September 21, 1804
...ow, Elk &
Goats in view feeding & Scipping on those Plains Grouse, Larks &
the Prarie bird is Common in those Plains. we proceeded on passed a (1)
willow Island be...
Oct
1
1804
Clark: October 1, 1804
...also by the white booted Turkeys worthy of remark
that the Grouse or Prarie hen is Booted, the Toes of their feet So
constructed as to walk on the Snow, and the Tai...
Oct
7
1804
Clark: October 7, 1804
... Covered with grass wild rye and Contains Great
numbers of Grouse, we proceeded on a Short distance above the Island and
Camped on the S. S. a fine evening.
Oct
8
1804
Clark: October 8, 1804
...mouth of a Small Creek on the L. S. about
21/2 miles above Grouse Island, (3) passed a willow Island which Divides
the Current equilly. (2) passed the mouth of a Ri...
Feb
13
1805
Clark: February 13, 1805
...rt on tomorrow
9th day. Set out early, Saw great numbers of Grouse feeding on the young
willows, on the Sand bars one mans I sent in persute of a gangue of Elk
kill...
Apr
12
1805
Clark: April 12, 1805
...umeing the Short grey, I Saw the
Magpie in pars, flocks of Grouse, the old field lark & Crows, &
observed the leaf of the wild Chery half grown, many flowers are to...
Apr
15
1805
Lewis: April 15, 1805
...they were remarkably shy.
I also met with great numbers of Grouse or prarie hens as they are called
by the English traders of the N. W. these birds appeared to be m...
Sep
10
1805
Clark: September 10, 1805
...only large game to be found they killed 4 deer a Beaver & 3 Grouse
which was divided, one of the hunters Colter, met with 3 Tushapaw Indians
who were in pursuit of ...
Oct
17
1805
Clark: October 17, 1805
...h there
was 20 Indians I shot a large Prairie Cock Several Grouse, Ducks and fish.
on my return found Great Numbr. of the nativs with Capt Lewis, men all
employd i...
Oct
26
1805
Clark: October 26, 1805
...ing
Killed five Deer, four verry large grey Squirels and a grouse. one of the
guard at the river guiged a Salmon Trout, which we had fried in a little
Bears Oil wh...
Oct
27
1805
Clark: October 27, 1805
...ty. Sent
out Several hunters who brought in four Deer, one Grouse & a Squirel.
The two Chiefs & party was joined by Seven others from below in two
canoes, we gave ...
Nov
5
1805
Clark: November 5, 1805
...nly In my walk of to Day I saw 17 Striped Snakes I killed a grouse which
was verry fat, and larger than Common. This is the first night which we
have been entirely ...
Mar
1
1806
Clark: March 1, 1806
...and fowls of the water.
The Prarie Hen sometimes called the Grouse is peculiarly the inhabitent of
the Great Plains of Columbia. they do not differ from those of the...
