Ruffed Grouse

The Ruffed grouse is a medium sized member of the grouse family and can be found in deciduous and mixed forests across Canada, Appalachian Mountains and Northern USA including Alaska.

Both sexes have brown to grey plummage with a long rounded banded tail, although the females central tail feathers lack the black subterminal band. Both sexes have elongated feathers on their head creating a crest and both have black ruffed neck feathers, although the males are more noticeable especially during displays. The male also has orange fleshy combs above his eyes.

Ruffed grouse are promiscuous, the male holds a territory in which he displays (fanned tail, ruffed neck, drumming of wings, strutting etc) to attract a female. Clutch size is approx 11 eggs and incubation takes 23-24 days.

A Ruffed grouse's diet includes buds and twigs of aspen, poplar, beech, alder, hazelnut and seasonal fruits and berries and clover.
Their diet also depends on the geography of the bird and the foods available to them in their habitat.

Ruffed grouse are one of the easiest to keep as you can give them a wide variety of foods. This grouse is also a good bird to start with.