The Ruffed Grouse is distributed throughout deciduous and coniferous forests of North America. However, they are most abundant in early-successional forests dominated by aspens and poplars. They are resident birds in young forests as far north as central Alaska and as far south as northern Georgia, with this species finding protection from predators in the canopy of young trees and in the thick understory of shrubs and saplings. Leaves, buds, and fruits of deciduous-forest plants constitute most of their diet.
About the Ruffed Grouse
This Grouse bears a cryptic plumage of mottled gray, brown, buff, and black coloration. Its plumage occurs in two color morphs, gray and red (or brown). The tail has the most noticeable difference in coloration. Intermediates between these occur, and the predominate morph varies geographically. The gray phase predominates in the northern parts of the range, the red phase in the south. All Ruffed Grouses (except juveniles) have a prominent dark band near the tip of the tail and a tuft of feathers on the sides of the neck.
Ruffed Grouse produces a variety of hissing, chirping, or peeping sounds. The males also make drumming sounds. The drums are a series of progressively faster thumps produced by air rushing to fill the vacuum created under the wings when they are rapidly flapped in front of the body. The male drums throughout the year, but the vast majority of drumming occurs in spring. This is presumably to attract females and ward off other males.
● Ruffed Grouse Photos, Color Pattern, Song
● Ruffed Grouse Size, Eating Behavior, Habitat
● Ruffed Grouse Range and Migration, Nesting
GET KIDS BIRD WATCHING
Ruffed Grouse Color Pattern
Nonbreeding adults have brownish-gray, reddish-brown, or tawny brown upperparts. These upperparts are mottled, spotted, and vermiculated with dusky brown, buff, and black. They also have a pale-buff line that runs from their lores to just behind their eyes. While their back feathers usually have small, heart-shaped white or buff spots. Their wings are similar to the rest of their upper parts but usually have pale-buff streaks in their feathers. The outer webs of their primaries are barred with whitish and dark brown. While their tail has broad pale bands and depending on the color morph, are light brown, reddish-brown, or gray. They are separated by narrow black bands and fine blackish vermiculation. Their prominent and vivid and subterminal band is black or brownish-black. On either side of their neck, there is a tuft of long feathers that are partially concealed. These feathers are usually glossy black with a slight bluish sheen, or sometimes even rich brown, chestnut, or auburn tipped with black. Their underparts are dark brown and pale buff to grayish white, with the color gradually changing to paler as it goes towards the belly. Their head is bright orange when exposed.
Adult females have similar subterminal dark bands on their tails, but their bands are generally broken or blotchy, while their crest and tail are shorter and their ruff is smaller. Their rump feathers have 1 rounded or oval whitish dot. Plumages of both sexes look similar throughout the year except for the minute differences. Juveniles generally look like females but lack the subterminal dark bank on their tails. Their head is also plainer and not as distinctly marked.
Description and Identification
Seeing the secretive Ruffed Grouse can be quite difficult although it can be easy to hear them when they are drumming. To track one down, note the locations where you hear drumming males this is generally most frequent very early in the morning. Otherwise, you may encounter foraging birds simply by walking slowly and quietly through the appropriate forest, or while driving along narrow forested roads. In winter, watch for Ruffed Grouse feeding on deciduous tree buds in bare treetops along a road.
Ruffed Grouse Song
These birds have primitive vocal organs and don’t make loud vocalizations. However, they can make a decent variety of sounds. Hens are capable of uttering a long, nasal squeal or a hissing sound when they are scared. Other calls also include a “chirp” call, which sounds like the sound a red squirrel makes. They also have a “pete-pete-pete-peta-peta” call that they make before they get flushed. Hens also provide a scolding call to the quiet chicks while brooding them and will coo out a low humming call to gather a scattered brood.
Males produce hissing notes but may also give out a “queet” call before running or flushing. When a female is near or when another male is present, they give out a soft psst call and a whining call. Young ruffed grouse also produce many variations of the peep call when alarmed or in distress. They may also give out an inquiry call that is a combination of their peep notes in ascending order of distress. Once they get older, they produce a warning call of 2 sharp notes and more notes later on.
Ruffed Grouse Size
Ruffed Grouse are relatively small Grouse that has a body length of 15.8-19.7 inches and a weight of 15.9-26.5 ounces. They have a short, triangular crest and a long, fan-shaped tail. Ruffed Grouse have short legs and often look far slimmer than many other Grouse species. They also have fairly short wings, with a wingspan that ranges from 19.7-25.2 inches. These proportions make them the size of the average American Crow.
Ruffed Grouse Behavior
As a result of their cryptic coloration and slow, deliberate movements on the ground, the Ruffed Grouse can be difficult to spot as they forage on the forest floor or walk along the low branches of trees and shrubs to pluck berries and buds. The grouse’s habit of burying itself in soft snow to roost can lead to surprising encounters for snowshoers or skiers when the birds erupt from beneath the surface. It isn’t rare to see them swimming.
When displaying for females or defending territory, the male stands atop a log, rock, or low dirt mound with crest, ruff, and tail erect, puffing up to nearly double its normal size and beating its wings to create a rapid-fire drumming sound. A drumming male will often trigger a response in a nearby male defending his own territory. Following the elaborate display, mating lasts only a few seconds. Females then go on their way to build a nest at the base of a tree or rock and raise the young on their own. Although Ruffed Grouse are normally solitary, small groups of unrelated birds may form in fall or winter to take advantage of productive feeding spots. Fights are rarely ever observed in the wild but occur commonly in captivity.
Pair bonds among these birds are extremely brief, with females either visiting more than one male and vice versa. They only remain together for the brief period they copulate, after which they separate and go their own ways.
Ruffed Grouse Diet
Ruffed Grouse feed almost exclusively on vegetation, including leaves, buds, and fruits of ferns, shrubs, and woody plants. In fall, soft fruits and acorns become an important part of the diet. Ruffed Grouse’s ability to digest foods high in cellulose makes it possible for them to survive harsh winter conditions in the northern part of their range, where they feed on buds and twigs of aspen, birch, and willow. In winter, birds in the south forage on leaves and fruit of greenbrier, mountain laurel, Christmas fern, and other green plants. Although insects and other invertebrates make up only a small part of the adult grouse’s diet, chicks 2-4 weeks old depend on this protein-rich prey.
Ruffed Grouse Habitat
Mixed-age groves of aspen, spruce, and birch make ideal habitats for Ruffed Grouse in the northern part of their range. Farther south, grouse inhabit deciduous forests of oaks, hickories, and pines, while in the Pacific Northwest you can find them in riparian habitats. Because young stands of trees are important for both cover and food, Grouse populations are higher in areas where logging, burning, and other disturbances create early-successional forests. Populations of Ruffed Grouse are lower in mature forests and in small patches of woods surrounded by agricultural lands.
Range and Migration
Ruffed Grouse are permanent residents of their habitats, never migrating to new locations for the winter. They breed in forests from the Appalachian Mountains in Canada to Alaska, with their southern range extending all the way till northern California on the western coast and till New York on the eastern coast. They also live in all provinces in Canada.
Ruffed Grouse Lifecycle
Each brood that Ruffed Grouse have typically hold 9-14 eggs milky to cinnamon buff eggs. It is unknown if the male or female incubates the eggs, but the period typically lasts for 23-24 days. After the eggs hatch, the chicks emerge covered in light down and with the triangular patch of black feathers that adults of this species are known for. They are active at hatching and are able to walk and feed themselves within 24 hours of hatching. The age at which these birds first learn to fly is unfortunately unknown.
Nesting
After mating, female Ruffed Grouse chooses a nest site at the base of a tree, stump, or rock in areas with sparse ground cover that give a clear view of predators. Nests may also be on top of brush piles, or in the bases of partially open, hollowed-out stumps. The Ruffed Grouse’s nest is a simple, hollowed-out depression in leaves on the forest floor, reaching up to 6 inches across and 3 inches deep. Females build the bowl-shaped nest and typically line the bowl with vegetation that they pluck from the edge of the nest site.
Anatomy of a Ruffed Grouse
Ruffed Grouse are relatively small Grouse that has a body length of 15.8-19.7 inches and a weight of 15.9-26.5 ounces. They have a short, triangular crest and a long, fan-shaped tail. Ruffed Grouse have short legs and often look far slimmer than many other Grouse species. They also have fairly short wings, with a wingspan that ranges from 19.7-25.2 inches. These proportions make them the size of the average American Crow.
Final Thoughts
Ruffed Grouse are fairly common and widespread. However, their populations may have declined between 1966 and 2014. The species rates a 10 on the Continental Concern Score. Ruffed Grouse is listed as a Common Bird in Steep Decline by Partners in Flight but is not on the 2014 State of the Birds Watch List. The grouse’s immense popularity as a
game bird has led to controls on season length, bag limits, and area closures, as well as to extensive efforts to improve habitat through management practices that encourage early successional forest. The Ruffed Grouse Society partners with government agencies in programs to expand the Grouse habitat through land purchases and targeted management. Habitat for Ruffed Grouse has declined where forests have matured due to fire control and limits on logging. Pesticide use can affect insect populations that chicks rely on.
Ruffed Grouse are almost criminally understudied. Although they are shy and gentle beings, there is very little data on many aspects of their lives. As their numbers continue to decline due to a myriad of reasons, the number of opportunities available to scientists to understand their situation better continues to reduce. The responsibility of preserving them, subsequently, falls on everyday people. If more awareness is generated, efficient conservation might not be a far-off reality.
Ornithology
Bird Watching Academy & Camp Subscription Boxes
At the Bird Watching Academy & Camp we help kids, youth, and adults get excited and involved in bird watching. We have several monthly subscription boxes that you can subscribe to. Our monthly subscription boxes help kids, youth, and adults learn about birds, bird watching, and bird conservation.
Bird Watching Binoculars for Identifying aRuffed Grouse
The most common types of bird watching binoculars for viewing a Ruffed Grouse are 8×21 binoculars and 10×42 binoculars. Bird Watching Academy & Camp sells really nice 8×21 binoculars and 10×42 binoculars. You can view and purchase them here.
-
Birding Binoculars$49.99 - Kids Binoculars$13.99
Ruffed Grouse Stickers
Stickers are a great way for you to display your love for bird watching and the Ruffed Grouse. We sell a monthly subscription sticker pack. The sticker packs have 12 bird stickers. These sticker packs will help your kids learn new birds every month.
Bird Feeders ForaRuffed Grouse
There are many types of bird feeders. Bird feeders are a great addition to your backyard. Bird feeders will increase the chances of attracting birds drastically. Both kids and adults will have a great time watching birds eat at these bird feeders. There are a wide variety of bird feeders on the market and it is important to find the best fit for you and your backyard.
Bird Houses ForaRuffed Grouse
There are many types of bird houses. Building a bird house is always fun but can be frustrating. Getting a bird house for kids to watch birds grow is always fun. If you spend a little extra money on bird houses, it will be well worth every penny and they’ll look great.
