Grouse
in ornithology, various game-birds, specially the Tetrao tetrix, called the black grouse, and Lagopus coticus, the red grouse. The male of the former is called the black cock, and the female the gray hen. The red, called also the common grouse, inhabits moors.
Besides Tetrao, the grouse family contains the genus Lagopus (Ptarmigan), etc., the ruffled grouse is the genus Bonasia; sand grouse are the family Pteroclidæ; and the wood grouse is the Capercailzie. They are well known to be large plump birds, with beautifully varie- SAGE GROUSE gated plumage, which must often be protective. They are especially abundant in the N. parts of both Old and New World.
The male is famous for his habit of with his wings. The largest American drumming, or beating stiffly downward grouse is the cock of the plains or sage cock.