Ruffed Grouse
The Ruffed Grouse is a wild chicken-like game bird that inhabits the boreal forest in Northern Ontario, and wooded parts of Central, Southwestern and Southeastern Ontario. An adult Ruffed Grouse weighs about 500 – 750 grams and stands about 40 – 45 cm tall. It feeds primarily on seeds, buds, leaves, nuts, worms and insects.
When startled, the Ruffed Grouse takes off suddenly, with a noticeable and easily recognized powerful rapid whirring of wings. It sounds like a big long Ffffffffrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!! This is intended to cause a potential predator to “freeze” for just an instant: long enough for the wily bird to escape.
Ruffed Grouse spend most of their time on the ground, foraging for food. When they do fly it is usually up into a tree, either to get away from danger, or to rest or get a different perspective on things. They also roost in trees at night, so that they can sleep safely, generally out of harm’s way. But they will equally fly to another place on the ground, to continue feeding or to search for a mate. They peck at sand or gravel each evening to help them grind and digest their food.
Ruffed Grouse are beautiful birds. Their plumage is a work of art. But they are not that easy to spot in the woods that they inhabit, as their feathers provide excellent camouflage. They are also canny get-away artists, as many a Nature observer will attest.
In winter, when it gets extremely cold, Ruffed Grouse have been known to dive into a fresh snowbank and stay there, under the snow, overnight, for warmth. When doing so, they will sometimes fall prey to a Canada Lynx, or a Fisher, who can sniff them out and dig for them.
Ruffed Grouse grow extra feathers on their feet in winter. These make-shift “snowshoes” help them to walk on top of freshly fallen snow, enabling them to better forage for food.
In the Spring the male Ruffed Grouse struts around a lot to show off, and also beats his wings, all to attract and impress a female. He gets up on a stump or rock to put on this display. He beats his wings rapidly, while standing upright in place. This is called “drumming”. The drumming starts slowly, picking up speed and intensity. If you have ever heard the sound, you will never forget it. Some people have described it as being like a chainsaw in the distance starting up and running for a short time. Then it slows down gradually until it stops. It lasts several seconds.
Some folks think that the drumming sound is created by the wings beating together in front of the male’s chest. In fact, the sound is caused by air rushing into the vacuum created by the wings beating down, as they rise up again for the next beat.
Ruffed Grouse breed in the early Spring. The female will lay anywhere from half a dozen to more than a dozen eggs in a ground nest. She will guard the nest and, together with the male, will raise on average 5 – 15 chicks. It is quite a sight to see when Mamma Ruffed Grouse leads a string of chicks, with Pappa Ruffed Grouse proudly bringing up the rear for security.
