Ruffed Grouse
Bonasa umbellus
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<birdfyi-bird slug="bonasa-umbellus"></birdfyi-bird>About
A medium-sized grouse (~610 g) of family Phasianidae, well camouflaged in brown and grey with a fan-shaped tail and neck ruff. Inhabits deciduous and mixed forests of North America. Males drum by beating wings to produce a distinctive booming sound. Feeds on buds, leaves, and berries. Least Concern; an important game bird across its broad North American forest range.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 36.6 cm | 14.4 in |
| Weight | 613.0 g | 21.62 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Cryptic brown or grey morph; broad black ruff on neck sides; tail broadly banded grey with black subterminal bar; underparts barred buff and brown; red eye-comb; two colour morphs vary by region.
Habitat & Range
Geographic Range
Resident across boreal forests of North America from Alaska south to the Appalachians. Found in deciduous and mixed woodland. Largely sedentary.
Diet & Feeding
Buds, catkins, and leaves of deciduous trees dominate diet in winter; berries, seeds, and invertebrates eaten in summer. Foliage forager.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: CP. Incubation: 23-24 days. Fledging: 10-12 days.
Clutch Size
6-15
Sound
Song
Males produce deep, accelerating drumming with wings on hollow logs; thump-thump-thump-rrrrrr. Vocal calls include soft 'quit-quit'; alarm is a sharp 'pit'. Drumming carries up to 400 meters.
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Galliformes (Gamebirds) |
| Family | Phasianidae (Pheasants & Partridges) |
| Genus | Bonasa |
| Species | Bonasa umbellus |
Distribution
Ruffed Grouse has been recorded in 2 countries.
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External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Ruffed Grouse eat?
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What does the Ruffed Grouse sound like?
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Similar Birds
Other species in the Phasianidae family