Ruffed Grouse Photo Gallery
Adult
Medium-sized game bird with short crest. A well-camouflaged bird with intricately barred and spotted plumage. Individuals can be grayish brown overall, reddish brown, or an intermediate tawny brown.
© Alix d'Entremont / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, April 06, 2013Display
Medium-sized game bird with extravagant display, including erecting long neck feathers to create a black "ruff" and fanning the tail, exposing a dark band near the tip.
© Lucas Bobay / Macaulay LibraryMinnesota, March 05, 2017Displaying male
Males typically perform a "drum display" atop a raised surface such as a log or stump. Ruffed Grouse do not produce the drumming sound by hitting their wings against their body, but rather by creating miniature sonic booms while pumping their wings back and forth.
© Nathaniel H. Taylor / Macaulay LibraryNew York, April 13, 2012Not all videos have soundAdult
When not displaying, sexes are difficult to tell apart. Often forages among tree branches during winter, especially when snow covers the ground.
© Richard Hix / Macaulay LibraryWyoming, October 03, 2016Adult
Often bathes in dust or lies on anthills ("anting"), fluffing feathers to clean them.
© David Weber / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 13, 2014Adult
Usually secretive and elusive, but occasional tame individuals actively approach humans.
© Sam Zhang / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, July 20, 2022Not all videos have soundAdult
Medium-sized game bird with peaked crest, pale line through the eye, and dark band near tip of tail. Sometimes forages in trees, especially in winter, taking berries and buds.
© Marya Moosman / Macaulay LibraryIdaho, December 31, 2016Adult
Lives in forest undergrowth where it can be very difficult to see; often most easily seen when crossing roads.
© Tim Lenz / Macaulay LibraryNew York, June 22, 2015Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies(Order: Galliformes, Family: Phasianidae)
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