Guess that Bird!!!

We went out in the woods last weekend to see what we could find to photograph.

As we were rounding a curve, three large birds ran to the side of the road and up a bank.

My husband got out, thinking they were partridge, but then motioned for me to come with my camera....

I climbed the bank and snuck up on the birds.......

And saw THIS:

Here is a close up of the bird's (ahem!) behind:

Have you guessed yet what it is????




Here is one more picture to help you.
He thinks he is hiding from me!
(Silly bird!):

Look at her pretty face!:

You guessed it.

It is a Spruce Grouse.

I think this is the male and not the hen, because he has some red above his eye.

Do you see it?:

They are known for being kind of dumb, because they don't scare very easily for hunters.

But, I am glad they didn't....

because it allowed me to photograph them:

I think he is rather handsome!:

Even from the back!

(If you look close, there are two birds in this photo...there is another one on the far right):
(The picture is a tiny bit blurry, sorry!)

So, I thanked him and headed back to the car.

(I think he was looking up what I said in his Bird-English translating dictionary when I last saw him)....

It was great seeing them out there in the woods, I hope you enjoyed meeting them too.