Uploaded September 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago

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One of 10 species of grouse native to North America, seeing the secretive Ruffed grouse, can be a little difficult. In fall though you may spot one balancing on limbs of alders as they forage buds or you may hear one in the morning drumming. The name “ruffed” comes from the long, shiny, black or chocolate colored neck feathers that are most prominent on the male.

00:00:28 Appearance
00:01:54 Distribution
00:02:28 Habitat
00:03:25 Diet
00:04:09 Drumming
00:05:33 Behavior
00:06:57 Breeding
00:08:03 Population

Photos, Videos and Audio provided by the following:

Bob Carlyle
Website: bobcarlylephotography.ca
Instagram: instagram.com/bob.carlyle

Woodlands of Canada
Website: woodlandsofcanada.com
YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCCzIWuu45xYc34YKuE5O9Yg
Flickr: flickr.com/photos/191185807@N07
Instagram: instagram.com/woodlands.of.canada

Craig Cooper
(no links)

Young Forest Photo
By ---=XEON=--- via Wikimedia Commons
CC BY 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Ruffed Grouse Nest with Eggs by Dennis Dalton via Flickr
flickr.com/photos/mylifeswork/14237113976
Attribution-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-ND 2.0)
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0

Ruffed Grouse Drumming audio only
Peter Ward and Ken Hall, XC603746. Accessible at xeno-canto.org
Clip was shortened and background noise removed

Thumbnail:
Ruffed Grouse, Algonquin, Ontario By Bob Hilscher via Canva.com

Photos and videos from free use websites:
The individuals' names can be found on their respective photo/video

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