Ruffed Grouse Bird Facts (Bonasa umbellus)

The Ruffed Grouse is a medium-sized game bird with mottled brown, black, and grey plumage. It has a small crest, a fan-shaped tail with a dark band, and feathered legs. The bird's most distinctive feature is the dark ruff of feathers around its neck.

Both sexes look similar, with slight variations in coloration - females are usually less vivid and have smaller ruffs. Some individuals may have a more reddish-brown or greyish overall appearance, depending on their habitat and region.

The Ruffed Grouse can be found in Woodland habitats.

The Ruffed Grouse is not typically found in Garden habitats.

The Ruffed Grouse is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

The Ruffed Grouse is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

The Ruffed Grouse is not typically found in Urban habitats.

The Ruffed Grouse is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

The Ruffed Grouse is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

The Ruffed Grouse is not typically found in Desert habitats.

The Ruffed Grouse is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

The Ruffed Grouse is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

The Ruffed Grouse is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

The Ruffed Grouse is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Ruffed Grouse inhabit deciduous and mixed forests across North America, from Alaska to the Appalachian Mountains. They prefer areas with dense understory and a mix of young and mature trees.

In the United States, they are found in the northern states, the Appalachians, and parts of the Rocky Mountains. In Canada, they occur in all provinces and territories except Nunavut.

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Ruffed Grouse. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Canada Saint Pierre and Miquelon United States of America

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Ruffed Grouse demonstrates remarkable agility, particularly in its explosive takeoff and ability to navigate through dense forest undergrowth. Its capacity for quick, evasive manoeuvres when startled contributes to its high agility rating.

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

While not exceptionally strong compared to larger birds, the Ruffed Grouse possesses adequate strength for its size. Its ability to perform the wing-beating drumming display and fly short distances through dense vegetation indicates moderate strength.

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Ruffed Grouse show impressive adaptability, thriving in various forest habitats from sea level to 3,700 metres elevation. Their seasonal diet changes, specialised digestive system, and winter adaptations like toe projections for walking on snow demonstrate high adaptability.

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Ruffed Grouse are not particularly aggressive birds. While males perform drumming displays during mating season, they generally avoid confrontation. Their primary defence strategy involves camouflage and explosive flight rather than aggressive behaviour.

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

The Ruffed Grouse exhibits good endurance, particularly in its ability to survive harsh winter conditions. Their capacity to digest fibrous plant material and create insulated snow roosts indicates resilience. However, their relatively short lifespan (1-3 years) suggests moderate rather than exceptional endurance.

Ruffed Grouse have a varied diet that changes seasonally. In spring and summer, they consume leaves, buds, and insects. During fall and winter, they primarily feed on berries, nuts, and tree buds.

They have a specialized digestive system that allows them to eat fibrous plant material.

Ruffed Grouse are known for their explosive takeoff when startled, creating a loud whirring sound with their wings. They are primarily ground-dwelling birds but can fly short distances through dense forests.

During mating season, males perform a distinctive drumming display by rapidly beating their wings while standing on a log.

Ruffed Grouse are generally quiet birds, but they produce a variety of soft clucks, whines, and peeps.

Their most distinctive sound is not vocal but mechanical - the male's drumming display. This sound starts slowly and builds to a rapid crescendo, often described as an accelerating 'thump-thump-thump'.

Ruffed Grouse breeding season begins in early spring. Males attract females through drumming displays, but they do not form lasting pair bonds.

Females create a shallow depression on the ground, often at the base of a tree or stump, lined with leaves and grass. They typically lay 9-14 cream-colored eggs with brown speckles.

Incubation lasts about 24 days, carried out solely by the female. Chicks are precocial, leaving the nest within 24 hours of hatching and can fly short distances after 10-12 days.

The Ruffed Grouse typically lives for 1 to 3 years, with a maximum recorded lifespan of 11 years.

Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.

While the Ruffed Grouse is currently listed as Least Concern, some populations have experienced declines due to habitat loss and fragmentation.

Conservation efforts focus on maintaining diverse forest habitats and promoting sustainable forestry practices that benefit the species.

Listen for the male's drumming sound in spring, which can be heard up to a quarter-mile away
Look for them in dense, mixed forests with plenty of understory
Be patient and move slowly, as they often freeze in place when threatened
In winter, search for their distinctive snowshoe-like tracks in snowy areas

Ruffed Grouse face predation from various animals, including hawks, owls, foxes, coyotes, and bobcats. Nestlings and eggs are vulnerable to raccoons, skunks, and snakes.

Ruffed Grouse can digest toxic plants that other animals can't eat.
They grow comb-like projections on their toes in winter, acting like snowshoes.
Some Ruffed Grouse dive into soft snow to roost, creating insulated shelters.

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