The Siberian grouse, also known as Siberian spruce grouse, Amur grouse, or Asian spruce grouse, is a short, rotund forest-dwelling grouse. A sedentary, non-migratory bird, it is the only member of the genus Falcipennis. The spruce grouse of North America, which physically looks similar, is now placed in the monotypic genus Canachites.
Region
Russian Far East and Northeast China
Typical Environment
Found in the boreal and temperate conifer forests of the Amur and Ussuri basin, Khabarovsk and Primorsky Krai, and adjacent parts of Heilongjiang and Jilin in Northeast China. It favors mature spruce–fir and mixed taiga with dense understory and abundant cone-bearing trees. Birds keep close to cover, using forest edges, boggy taiga, and riverine conifers. In winter they often roost and feed high in conifers, descending to the ground more frequently in summer. The species is highly sedentary, maintaining small home ranges year-round.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Continental
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the Siberian spruce grouse or Amur grouse, it is the sole species in the genus Falcipennis. It is a secretive, forest-dwelling bird that depends on mature conifer stands and can be surprisingly tame in remote areas. Logging and hunting pressure have contributed to regional declines. Males display with soft hoots and wing-claps, showing bright red eye combs during courtship.
Temperament
shy and cryptic
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief glides
Social Behavior
Generally solitary or in small family groups outside the breeding season. Males hold small territories and display to visiting females with soft coos and wing-clapping. Nests are shallow ground scrapes concealed under dense cover; clutches are typically 6–10 eggs. Chicks are precocial and follow the hen soon after hatching.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are subdued, consisting of low hoots, soft clucks, and hissing notes. Males produce muffled cooing and rapid wing-claps during display, often barely audible beyond close range.
Plumage
Males are dark slate-gray to blackish with fine white speckling and bold white patches on the wings and underparts; tail often shows a white terminal band. Females are mottled brown with heavy barring and speckling for excellent camouflage. Both sexes have feathered legs and short, rounded wings typical of grouse.
Diet
In winter it feeds largely on conifer needles, buds, and shoots, especially from spruce and fir. During the warmer months, it adds berries, seeds, and fresh leaves. Chicks consume a higher proportion of insects and other invertebrates to support rapid growth. Grit is taken to aid in grinding tough plant material.
Preferred Environment
Forages both in trees and on the ground within dense conifer and mixed taiga. In winter it often feeds high in spruce and fir canopies; in summer it uses forest edges, clearings, and mossy ground layers where berries and invertebrates are abundant.
