Ruffed Grouse

forest bird · game bird · North America · drummer

Famous for drumming. Male ruffed grouse create a low drumming sound by rapidly beating their wings while standing still. This impressive display can be heard echoing through forests and helps them attract mates.

Deep forest home. Unlike partridges that prefer open grassland, ruffed grouse live in thick forests from the Appalachian Mountains all the way across Canada to Alaska. They stay in their forest homes year-round instead of migrating.

Tricky disguise. These medium-sized birds are sometimes mistakenly called partridges, but they are not actually related to true partridges at all. Their ruffled neck feathers make them look fancy, especially on males.

Favorite to hunt. Ruffed grouse are the most widely distributed game bird in all of North America, making them extremely popular with hunters. They are the only species in their special genus called Bonasa.

Four seasons style. Ruffed grouse change colors with the seasons, shifting from reddish-brown in fall to grayish tones in winter to help them blend into their surroundings.