Above: This Ruffed Grouse is well camouflaged among dead leaves on a late-fall afternoon; by Peter Taylor
How do I recognize it?
The Ruffed Grouse is a chicken-like bird with an intricate pattern of grey, rusty, black and white markings. Its often-raised crest and barred, fan-like tail help to distinguish it from other grouse species. The relative amounts of rusty and grey tones, especially in the tail feathers, vary greatly among individuals. In spring and to a lesser extent in fall, territorial male Ruffed Grouse are often detected by the muffled “drumming” sound created by a flurry of wingbeats while standing on a log with the tail acting as a strut. Ruffed Grouse can fly rapidly for short distances, but often prefer to walk stealthily away from danger.
Above: These intricate markings on a Ruffed Grouse’s back and wings defy simple description; by Peter Taylor
Does it migrate?
Ruffed Grouse do not migrate, though they may make local, seasonal movements to different habitats within a small area, according to their food supply and shelter needs. An individual grouse’s year-round range may be no more than a few hectares.
Above: In winter, Ruffed Grouse feed on the buds of willow, poplar, and other deciduous trees and shrubs, mostly from late afternoon until dusk; by Peter Taylor
Where does it live?
Ruffed Grouse occur across Canada from coast to coast and in much of the northern United States. In Manitoba, they are found in deciduous and mixed-wood forests, but are scarce or absent in intensive agricultural regions and the northern quarter of the province. Nesting females lay about a dozen eggs in a bowl-shaped depression on the forest floor, often at the base of a large tree. The young are able to fly short distances within about five days of hatching, enabling them to scatter quickly when danger threatens.
Above: A half-grown Ruffed Grouse chick perches low in a balsam fir; by Peter Taylor
Where can I see it?
Ruffed Grouse can be found in forested areas in much of Manitoba, perhaps most easily in or near larger parks such as Riding Mountain National Park and Whiteshell, Nopiming, and Hecla-Grindstoneprovincial parks. Look for them along quiet roadsides in the early morning, when they often seek grit as a digestive aid.
Above: A Ruffed Grouse seeking grit at a roadside; by Peter Taylor
Conservation Status:
The tasty Ruffed Grouse is subject to regulated hunting. Numbers vary cyclically over ten-year periods, but without any obvious longer-term trends. So, the woodland drummer’s future in Manitoba seems secure.
Above: Ruff extended and tail fanned, a female Ruffed Grouse performs a bold distraction display to protect her chicks; by Peter Taylor
Did you know:
Plumage differences between male and female Ruffed Grouse are subtle. Both sexes have the neck ruff, which is prominent both in male breeding displays and female distraction displays. For more details, check out the Ruffed Grouse Society website, https://ruffedgrousesociety.org/grouse-facts/
Written by Peter Taylor