Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)

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Image of a Ruffed Grouse in its natural habitat
Birds Grouse

Introduction

The Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) is a medium-sized, ground-dwelling member of the pheasant family, Phasianidae. Native to North America, it is a year-round resident of forested habitats and is best known for the male’s deep wing-drumming display during the breeding season. Its cryptic plumage and quiet habits make it difficult to see, although its distinctive drumming is often heard before the bird is located. (allaboutbirds.org)

Physical Description

Ruffed Grouse measure approximately 40–50 cm in length and weigh about 450–750 g. Their wingspan is generally 50–64 cm. Both sexes have mottled brown, grey, buff and white plumage that provides effective camouflage among leaf litter, shrubs and tree trunks. (allaboutbirds.org)

The head has a small crest, while the rounded tail has a conspicuous dark band near the tip. The legs are partly feathered, an adaptation that helps protect the bird in cold conditions. Males are usually slightly larger than females and have more prominent dark neck feathers, which can be raised into a ruff during display. Young birds are generally duller and less strongly marked than adults.

Two principal colour phases are commonly recognised: a grey phase, more frequent in northern parts of the range, and a reddish or rufous phase, more prevalent in many southern populations. Intermediate plumages also occur, and colour alone should not be used as the sole identification feature. (mass.gov)

Range and Habitat

Ruffed Grouse occur across much of Canada and Alaska, as well as in forested regions of the northern and western United States, the Great Lakes region, New England and the Appalachian Mountains. Their range extends southward in suitable upland forests, with isolated or reintroduced populations in some areas. They are generally non-migratory, although individuals may disperse locally or shift their use of habitat during the year. (research.fs.usda.gov)

The species is strongly associated with forests containing a mixture of age classes. Young regenerating stands provide dense cover, while mature woodland supplies additional food, nesting sites and winter shelter. Aspen, birch and other deciduous trees are particularly important in northern areas. Broods use more open ground layers with abundant herbaceous vegetation and insects, while conifers can provide shelter during severe winter weather. (research.fs.usda.gov)

Healthy habitat usually consists of a shifting mosaic of young forest, shrub cover, mature trees, woodland edges and small openings rather than a single uniform forest type. In mountainous regions, Ruffed Grouse may occur at higher elevations where suitable forest structure is present.

Behaviour and Diet

Ruffed Grouse spend much of their time on or near the forest floor, walking through dense cover to feed. When startled, they may explode from vegetation with rapid wingbeats, but they usually fly only a short distance before returning to cover or landing in a tree.

During spring, males establish territories and advertise with their characteristic drumming display. A male usually stands on a log, rock or other slightly raised site and rapidly beats his wings, producing a low-frequency sound by moving air rather than striking an object. Drumming is used primarily in territorial and courtship behaviour and is often most noticeable in the early morning. The sound may carry several hundred metres through quiet woodland. (allaboutbirds.org)

The diet changes with the seasons. Adults eat buds, catkins, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, acorns and other plant material. Aspen, birch and willow buds are especially important in winter, while berries, fruits and green vegetation become more prominent during the warmer months. Chicks depend heavily on insects and other invertebrates during their early development. (nps.gov)

Females build shallow, bowl-shaped nests on the ground, often beside a tree, stump, log, shrub or rock. A typical clutch contains about 7–12 eggs, although clutch size varies. Incubation lasts approximately 23–24 days. The chicks are precocial: they can walk and feed themselves soon after hatching, leave the nest within about a day and begin making short flights within their first week. The female remains with the brood for several weeks. (research.fs.usda.gov)

Identification Tips

Look for the following combination of features:

  • A chunky, chicken-sized body with a short neck and small head.
  • Mottled brown, grey and buff plumage that blends into woodland cover.
  • A small head crest and partly feathered legs.
  • A rounded tail with a broad, dark band near the tip.
  • A dark neck ruff that is most obvious on a displaying male.
  • A sudden, noisy flush from dense forest cover when the bird is approached.

The tail band and head crest help separate the Ruffed Grouse from the female Sooty Grouse in the Pacific Northwest. The Sooty Grouse is larger and lacks the Ruffed Grouse’s prominent dark tail band and crest. In other parts of its range, habitat and structure are often more useful than colour because the two main colour phases can vary considerably. (nps.gov)

Listening for drumming males is often the most effective way to locate the species. In winter, birds may also be seen feeding on buds in bare deciduous trees or along quiet forest roads.

Conservation Status

The Ruffed Grouse is not currently regarded as a globally threatened species. Cornell Lab of Ornithology lists its conservation category as Low Concern, although abundance and local conservation status vary across its range. (allaboutbirds.org)

The principal conservation issue is the loss or simplification of the mixed-age forest habitat on which the species depends. Mature forests without young regeneration may provide insufficient cover for nesting and broods, while the removal of mature trees can reduce winter food and shelter. Population fluctuations are also influenced by weather, predation, food availability and habitat conditions. (research.fs.usda.gov)

Management commonly focuses on maintaining connected mosaics of young, intermediate-aged and mature forest, with dense shrub layers, suitable nesting cover, brood habitat and winter shelter. In the United States and Canada, hunting seasons and harvest limits are regulated by relevant wildlife agencies. The species also has cultural importance as Pennsylvania’s official state bird and as a valued game bird and indicator of forest habitat quality. (pa.gov)

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the Ruffed Grouse live?

Ruffed Grouse live in forested regions across much of Canada and Alaska, and in suitable areas of the northern, western and eastern United States, including the Great Lakes region and the Appalachian Mountains.

Is the Ruffed Grouse migratory?

No. It is generally a year-round resident. Individuals may disperse or move between nearby habitats, but the species does not undertake regular long-distance migration.

What does a Ruffed Grouse eat?

Adults eat a wide range of plant material, including buds, catkins, leaves, fruits, seeds and acorns. Chicks consume many insects and other invertebrates before gradually shifting towards a more plant-based diet.

Why does a male Ruffed Grouse drum?

A male drums by rapidly beating his wings to advertise his territory and attract females. The sound is produced by moving air beneath the wings, not by striking a log.

Where does the Ruffed Grouse nest?

The female makes a shallow nest on the ground, commonly beside a tree, stump, log, shrub or rock. The nest is usually concealed by vegetation and nearby forest cover.

How can a Ruffed Grouse be identified?

Look for a plump, mottled brown or grey grouse with a small crest, partly feathered legs and a rounded tail marked by a dark band near the tip. The male’s raised neck ruff and the species’ distinctive spring drumming are additional clues.

References

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