One can see many different kinds of animals on a journey through Yellowstone National Park. Some, like bears, can be thrillingly dangerous, while others, such as songbirds, can be extremely beautiful.
Some, like this grouse, seem to think they’re incredibly threatening, while forgetting how small they are. This is a male dusky grouse, which is usually aggressive in the spring.
Watch Now:
This one was incensed that anyone would dare to trespass inside its territory, and turned its aggressiveness up. Yellowstone may not be Jurassic Park, but it would be if this angry little guy got his way.
Modern Day Dinosaur
Dusky grouse, like all other birds, are descended from dinosaurs, even if they don’t quite command the same presence. This one stopped listening after hearing it was distantly related to dinosaurs.
After seeing anything intrude into its territory, this grouse followed its very first instinct, which was to charge the threat until it left. The fact that this threat was two humans and a car didn’t seem to worry it at all.
If the bird were any larger, its territorial display might have been intimidating, but its small size made all of its impotent rage that little bit more amusing.
Territorial Little Bird
These grouse become more aggressive in the spring because it’s breeding season. This means they need to keep an extra close eye on their territory to ward away competitors, and make sure they’re attractive to females.
During this season, dusky grouse, which might otherwise be hard to spot, will be bold and can be seen and approached more easily.
In this case, the little grouse was trying to intimidate the intruders into leaving, and even after they started moving away in their car, it followed them to escort them out of its territory.
The Impatient Grouse
The visitors to Yellowstone Park moved away slowly to ensure the bird had enough time to get out of the way of the car, but the grouse was having absolutely none of it.
It sprinted alongside the car, keeping a beady eye on it the entire time, to make sure it was actually going to leave the area, and when the car didn’t leave fast enough, the grouse decided to take further action.
From alongside the car, the grouse leapt up and onto the windscreen, climbing over the wing mirror and onto the car, voicing its displeasure at the vehicle’s continued presence in its territory.
Get our Best Sightings as they Come in
Bird Versus Car
If you’re reading this and thinking that a bird the size of this grouse wouldn’t stand a chance against a car, then you’d be absolutely right. That doesn’t stop this little guy from trying, though.
He clambered over the wing mirror and managed to fall off it, landing on the hood of the car. From there, he continued his aggressive display, marching back and forth and even scratching at the windscreen, trying to get in.
Once the grouse decided that its message had been received, it leapt down from the car and allowed them to continue on their way, no doubt refocusing its efforts on the breeding season.