There are four members of the grouse family found in the northern parts of Minnesota. All the male members of these families put on spectacular courtship displays. The most common grouse to see displaying in this area is the Sharp-tailed Grouse, followed by the Ruffed Grouse and finally the Greater Prairie Chicken. Just north of us is the gorgeous Spruce Grouse.

I hadn’t seen a Spruce Grouse in years and got a chance to go and look for them in the northern part of the state along with my friends Steve, Jo and Ron. I wasn’t going to turn down the offer. If you have never seen one, the male is a striking bird about sixteen inches long; gray above with black on his throat and breast, which is edged in white. He has a crimson red comb above each eye and the tips of his tail look as though they were dipped in chestnut paint.

Read the rest of the Warren's column in our April issue...