Habitat use by spruce grouse in northern Wisconsin.

Anich, Nicholas M.; Worland, Mike; Martin, Karl J.

ABSTRACT Spruce grouse ( Falcipennis canadensis) habitat use varies widely across their range and is not well-understood near the southern extent of their range. Threats to conifers from climate change make understanding habitat use at the southern edge of the range increasingly important. We obtained habitat information on 55 radiocollared spruce grouse in northern Wisconsin, USA from 16 May 2007 to 10 July 2012. Black spruce ( Picea mariana) and tamarack ( Larix laricina) were the most common habitat components. Some of our findings differed from previous reports, including little use of eastern hemlock ( Tsuga canadensis) or northern white cedar ( Thuja occidentalis), use of tamarack in summer more than any other tree species, and winter roosting and feeding in red pine ( Pinus resinosa), especially where jack pine ( P. banksiana) was not available. Male display points contained fewer small broadleaf saplings (

SPRUCE grouse; BIRD habitats; BLACK spruce; EASTERN hemlock; RED pine

Wildlife Society Bulletin (2328-5540), 2013, Vol 37, Issue 4, p766

2328-5540

Academic Journal

10.1002/wsb.318