artist: Nadia Berghella

An uncommon species in Quebec’s south

The spruce grouse (Falcipennis canadensis), also known as the Canada grouse, is a wild hen of the same family as the ruffed grouse. Unlike the ruffed grouse, which makes its habitat in the temperate forests, the spruce grouse needs the boreal forest to fulfill its vital needs. During the summer period, the grouse feeds on berries, leaves, flowers and insects while during the winter season it feeds mainly on the needles and buds of conifers. This remarkable feature allows the spruce grouse to survive in coniferous forests found in the park’s summits, where it would be impossible for the ruffed grouse to do the same.

HERE in the park

The coniferous forests cover an immense territory in the northern part of the province of Quebec but are, on the south shore of the St Lawrence, restricted to specific zones. Because of the altitude, the forests found in the highest areas of the park are quite similar to the boreal forest of northern Quebec and share its flora. Massif du Sud regional park is one of the few areas to shelter a spruce grouse population in the south of Quebec.

These meridional populations are very fragile because of the reduced size of their habitat and its proximity to inhabited areas. The spruce grouse disappeared in some areas because of intensive hunting activities and the poor survival instinct of the animal towards humans. The decreasing size of the boreal forest, caused by logging activities, is also harmful to the spruce grouse population, but can be lessened by establishing protected areas and applying sustainable development policies. In Massif du Sud regional park, the Claude-Melançon ecological reserve, located in the heart of the park, protects the natural fauna and flora by prohibiting any activities including hunting, logging and recreational activities.

Did you know?

The male spruce grouse has a black stomach, white stripes on its sides and the tip of its tail is dark yellow. To differentiate itself from the ruffed grouse, the spruce grouse has a red patch over its eyes, like an eyebrow. The female has rust-colour feathers with lots of white stripes. Its tail is short and dark with a dark yellow band on its tip. It would be easy to mistake it for a ruffed grouse if it wasn’t for the absence of a hoopoe on its head.