Ruffed Grouse
Ruffed Grouse are widespread and elusive woodland birds, but are fairly common over their range in the forests of deciduous and mixed-wood that they prefer. The best time to detect them is during the spring, when males are displaying to attract females.
The males perch on a drumming log, and beat their wings to produce a unique thrumming sound, often described as a "tractor starting up." Once heard, the sound is very distinctive.
After mating, the hens do all the work of incubating and raising the chicks. When her family is threatened, the hen runs along the ground, gives a wobbling, hissing display which leads predators (and humans!) away from her brood.
Ruffed Grouse may be either mostly grey or reddish-brown, colour "phases" that are entirely independent of sex or age.
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