Best Camouflaged Bird in the Woods - Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)

Ruffed Grouse 
image by Ruth Forsgren

 by Ruth Forsgren 

Ruffed (not ruffled) Grouse belong to the order Galliformes, which refers to most of the chicken-like birds and includes birds like; chickens, turkeys, quail, grouse, pheasants, etc. When I moved to this part of Wisconsin I was confused by people saying that they were going partridge hunting in the woods. I grew up with Hungarian Partridge and these birds are not forest birds. They could usually be found in the fencerows around farm fields. The other naturalist explained to me that it was one of those local common names that are mistakenly used sometimes.  Ruffed Grouse are one of ten species of grouse found in North America and have the most widespread range. Ruffed Grouse stand about 17 inches in height and look like small chickens roaming about in the woods. Unlike other gallinaceous birds that form coveys (a group of birds that live together), Ruffed Grouse tend to be solitary birds.

Ruffed Grouse on forest floor 
image by Ruth Forsgren

Ruffed Grouse have two predominate color phases, grey or reddish-brown. Studies show that grouse that live in harsher winter climates tend to the grey color phase, while those found where winters are milder are more often the reddish color. Males have dark feathers around the neck that stand up during courtship or mating displays. The dark feathers are called the ruff and are what give the bird its name. Both males and females have feathers on the head that form a crest when raised, males also show a dark color band near the end of the tail feathers. Ruffed grouse have excellent camouflage for their life on the forest floor. They are known for their habit of sitting still and often will not flush (fly up) until almost stepped on. These birds have given the proverbial heart attack to this author and many other woods people.

 

WI DNR Image

Ruffed Grouse are well known for their drumming.   The male Ruffed Grouse will drum from a log or   stone that is raised about eight to twelve inches off   the forest floor. This stage is known as a drumming   log. The birds do not physically beat on anything to   produce the noise, rather they rotate their curved   wings back and forth causing air to rush beneath the   wings and form a vacuum that causes the deep   thumping sound. People often describe the   drumming is something they almost feel more than   hear as the sound waves travel out. The sound can   be heard up to one quarter of a mile away when conditions are favorable. The drumming is mostly heard in spring and is an announcement to other males of territory ownership and it is also a way to impress and attract the ladies.  

The habitat they need  is early to mid-successional, dense, mixed hardwood and coniferous forest. They nest on the ground, relying on camouflage to keep them hidden from predators. The average clutch size is eleven eggs. The chicks are born precocial, which means that they are able to move within hours of hatching and can feed themselves within a day. The Ruffed Grouse population is cyclic, or follows predictable rises and declines in population numbers. In northern areas the cycle is tied to the snowshoe hare cycle, as snowshoe hare numbers increase the predator numbers increase. Given the choice, the predators seem to opt for the hares leaving the grouse numbers to increase. But when hare populations decline the high predator population shifts to hunting the smaller prey like the Ruffed Grouse. The smaller prey animals lead to a decline in predators which allows the snowshoe hare populations to rise and start the cycle over again.

Ruffed Grouse have several adaptations that allow them to survive harsh winters far into northern Canada. The first is that Ruffed Grouse have extra tube like areas in the intestines that help the bird digest cellulose. The grouse can also digest bitter and toxic plants that other birds cannot. This means that Ruffed Grouse can remain in an area during the winter months when acorns, seeds and fruits are not available. The preferred winter food are the buds of the aspen family. They also feed on the catkins and twigs of these trees.

As winter approaches the Ruffed Grouse grow additional feathers to cover the tarsus (the part of the bird’s foot that goes between the “knee” and the toes). The toes themselves develop pectinations. These are extensions of the foot scales and the growth resembles a comb.

Grouse foot with pectinations
image by Ruth Forsgren

The pectinations are believed to act like snowshoes in deep snow, spreading the weight out to keep the bird from sinking. It is thought that they also aid the bird in gripping icy branches when feeding.  

If snow depths reach eight inches or more of fluffy snow, Ruffed Grouse are able to snow roost. They dive head first into the snowbank and burrow into the snow.  Some snow roosts have been recorded at depths of eight to ten feet. The snow is an excellent insulator and there can be a thirty-degree difference between the roost and outside air temperature. If snow depths to conditions do not allow for snow roosting they will seek shelter from wind and cold temperatures in conifer trees.

Ruffed Grouse are a favorite bird among hunters, in fact it is one of the first managed game birds in North America. In 1708 New York state created a non-open season on the birds to help insure their continued presence in the state.  Wisconsin used the Ruffed Grouse as bartering tool, in 1976 the WI Dept. of Natural Resources traded with Missouri.  We gave them Ruffed Grouse and they gave us Wild Turkeys to help us re-establish them in the state after an almost 100-year absence. 

So when you are exploring wooded areas be on the lookout for these little woodland chickens. In spring listen for the deep telltale thumping sound of a drumming male. And watch where you step, don’t let them startle you!  

WI DNR image - Paul Carson