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Help develop a Bird ID tool!

Ruffed Grouse

Bonasa umbellus ORDER: GALLIFORMES FAMILY: PHASIANIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

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Many people's first experience with the Ruffed Grouse is when it explodes from the forest floor in a flurry of wings. Often, it's gone before they can turn around. The grouse's cryptic coloration and slow, deliberate walk make it virtually invisible.

Read Cornell Lab of Ornithology's blog, Round Robin

Appearance

Gamebirds
Gamebirds
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Medium to large chicken-like bird.
  • Thick bodied.
  • Tail moderately long, rounded.
  • Rounded wings in flight.
  • Short crest on head.
  • Cryptic coloring of gray and brown mottled with dark and light spots.

Male Description

Large neck ruff. Large crest. Rump feathers with two or more whitish dots.

Female Description

Crest and tail shorter. Ruff smaller, sometimes not apparent. Rump feathers with one rounded or oval dot. Dark tail band usually broken or blotchy.

Immature Description

Juvenile looks like female, but does not have black band on tail. Immature looks similar to adult.

Range Map Help

Ruffed Grouse Range Map
View dynamic map of eBird sightings

Field MarksHelp

  • Displaying male, gray form
    Zoom In

    Ruffed Grouse

    Displaying male, gray form
    • © Bill Marchel/CLO
  • Adult female, red form
    Zoom In

    Ruffed Grouse

    Adult female, red form
    • © Michael J. Hopiak/CLO

Similar Species

  • Spruce Grouse female similar, but lacks a crest and has a uniformly colored tail without the dark band.