Dendragapus

[2][3][4] These two taxa were originally regarded as separate species, but were considered conspecific for much of the twentieth century.

[5] whose results supported the earlier work of Brooks (1929)[6] who regarded the two taxa as separate species based on morphology, behavior and vocalizations.

The precise ranges of the two species are well-defined in the south, separated by extensive areas of unsuitable forest-free habitat, but somewhat uncertain in the north of the range of the genus where there is no separation; Barrowclough et al.'s study did not include these northern populations.

Adults have a long square tail, gray at the end (lighter in the sooty grouse).

[4] Their breeding habitat is the edges of conifer and mixed forests in mountainous regions of North America and Eurasia.

Females of both species (sooty grouse pictured) are mottled brown with dark brown and white marks on the underparts.
In breeding plumage, this sooty grouse male is typical of the species. It is dark grey with a yellow wattle over the eye. The tail is long and black with a square pale gray tip.