Ruffed Grouse - BirdForum Opus

Bonasa umbellus

Male displaying. Photo by GaryT.
Photo taken: Wellsboro, Pennsylvania.

Identification

40-50cm. Long square brownish tail with barring and a black band near the end, grey-brown head, neck and back, breast is light with barring, ruffs are on the sides of the neck. These birds also have a crest on top of their head, which sometimes lies flat. Both sexes are similarly marked and sized.

Distribution

Canada and northern United States.

Taxonomy

Fourteen subspecies are recognized:^[1]

Habitat

Open areas.

Behaviour

Females nest on the ground, typically laying 6–8 eggs. The nests occasionally are parasitized by Ring-necked Pheasants or Wild Turkeys that lay eggs in the nests.

The diet includes buds, leaves, berries, seeds, and insects.

References

1. Clements, JF. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Ruffed Grouse. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 14 June 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Ruffed_Grouse

External Links

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