Ruffed Grouse
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Galliformes Family: Tetraonidae Genus: Bonasa Species: B. umbellus
Binomial name
Bonasa umbellus (Linnaeus, 1766)

The Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa umbellus, is a medium-sized grouse occurring in forests across Canada and the Appalachian and northern United States including Alaska. It is non-migratory. Ruffed Grouse from USFWS Source: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Seney National Wildlife Refuge File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species continuing to survive either in the present day or the future. ... Image File history File links Status_iucn3. ... Least Concern (LC) is an IUCN category assigned to extant species or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Typical Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... For other meanings of bird, see bird (disambiguation). ... Families Megapodidae Numididae Odontophoridae Phasianidae Meleagrididae Tetraonidae Cracidae Mesitornithidae The Galliformes is an order of birds containing the turkeys, grouse, quails and pheasants. ... Genera Tetrao Lagopus Falcipennis Centrocercus Bonasa Dendrapagus Tympanuchus Grouse are from the order Galliformes which inhabit temperate and subarctic regions of the northern hemisphere. ... Species Bonasa bonasia Bonasa sewerzowi Bonasa umbellus Bonasa is a genus of birds in the grouse family. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Carl Linnaeus, Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as  , (May 23, 1707[1] – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[2] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ... Genera Tetrao Lagopus Falcipennis Centrocercus Bonasa Dendrapagus Tympanuchus Grouse are from the order Galliformes which inhabit temperate and subarctic regions of the northern hemisphere. ... Official language(s) English[1] Spoken language(s) English 85. ... Flock of Barnacle Geese during autumn migration Bird migration refers to the regular seasonal journeys of varying distances undertaken by many species of birds. ...

The Ruffed Grouse is frequently called the “partridge.” This leads to confusion with the Grey Partridge, which was introduced to Canada from Europe. The Ruffed Grouse is only distantly related to the Grey Partridge, which is a bird of open areas, not woodlands. Binomial name Perdix perdix (Linnaeus, 1758) The Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix) is a gamebird in pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. ...

Ruffed Grouse have two distinct color phases, gray and red. In the gray phase, adults have a long square brownish tail with barring and a black band near the end ("subterminal"). The head, neck and back are gray-brown; the breast is light with barring. The ruffs are on the sides of the neck. These birds also have a crest on top of their head, which sometimes lies flat. Both sexes are similarly marked and sized, making them difficult to tell apart, even in hand. The female often has a broken subterminal tail band, while males often have unbroken tail bands. Another fairly accurate sign is that rump feathers with a single white dot indicate a female; rump feathers with more than one white dot indicate a male.

Ruffed Grouse have never been successfully bred in captivity.

These birds forage on the ground or in trees. They are omnivores, eating buds, leaves, berries, seeds, and insects. According to Don L. Johnson, "More than any other characteristic, it is the ruffed grouse's ability to thrive on a wide range of foods that has allowed it to adapt to such a wide and varied range of habitat on this continent. A complete menu of grouse fare might itself fill a book...One grouse crop yielded a live salamander in a salad of watercress. Another contained a small snake." ^[1] This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Several types of berries from the market. ... A ripe red jalapeño cut open to show the seeds For other uses, see Seed (disambiguation). ... Orders Subclass Apterygota Archaeognatha (bristletails) Thysanura (silverfish) Subclass Pterygota Infraclass Paleoptera (Probably paraphyletic) Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) Infraclass Neoptera Superorder Exopterygota Grylloblattodea (ice-crawlers) Mantophasmatodea (gladiators) Plecoptera (stoneflies) Embioptera (webspinners) Zoraptera (angel insects) Dermaptera (earwigs) Orthoptera (grasshoppers, etc) Phasmatodea (stick insects) Blattodea (cockroaches) Isoptera (termites) Mantodea (mantids) Psocoptera... Don L. Johnson (1927-2006) was among Wisconsins best known outdoor writers. ...

In spring, males attract females by drumming, beating their wings loudly, often while on a fallen log. Females nest on the ground, typically laying 6–8 eggs. Grouse spend most of their time on the ground, and when surprised, may explode into flight, beating their wings very loudly.

Photo by Don L. Johnson

Photo by Amy D. Moore

The Ruffed Grouse is the state bird of Pennsylvania. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 543 pixelsFull resolution (808 × 548 pixel, file size: 619 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo of ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), taken in Wisconsin by the late outdoor writer Don L. Johnson. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 543 pixelsFull resolution (808 × 548 pixel, file size: 619 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo of ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), taken in Wisconsin by the late outdoor writer Don L. Johnson. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ...

Hunting

Ruffed Grouse are hunted across their entire range. Population densities across the continent have declined severely in recent decades, primarily due to habitat loss. Many states in the U.S. have open Grouse hunting seasons that run from September through January, but hunting is not considered to be a significant contributing factor in the population decline.

Ruffed Grouse are pursued by hunters both with and without the aid of dogs, and in most states are taken legally with shotguns rifles or pistols or through falconry. Flying a Saker Falcon Falconry or hawking is an art or sport which involves the use of trained raptors (birds of prey) to hunt or pursue game for humans. ...

References

1. ^ Grouse & Woodcock: A Gunner's Guide, by Don L. Johnson (Krause Publications, 1995. ISBN: 0-87341-346-6), p. 37.

Additional Reading

• BirdLife International (2004). Bonasa umbellus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern