What is a ruffed grouse?
The ruffed grouse is one of 18 species of grouse. It is a game bird that resembles a chicken and has several common names including partridge, woods pheasant and ruffled grouse.
Is the ruffed grouse on the 2014 state of the watch list?
Ruffed Grouse is listed as a Common Bird in Steep Decline by Partners in Flight, but is not on the 2014 State of the Birds Watch List.
How is the colour of the grouse affected by its habitat?
The colour of the grouse is affected by its habitat as it uses camouflage to protect itself from predators. The ruffed grouse is well adapted to life in thick brush. Although it is primarily a ground-dwelling bird it is very skilled at flying in short spurts and can make rapid twists and turns, which helps it fly in amid thick forest growth.
What is the scientific name for a grouse?
Taxonomy. Ruffed grouse is the preferred common name because it applies only to this species. Misleading vernacular names abound, however, and it is often called partridge (sometimes rendered pa’tridge, or shortened to pat), pheasant, or prairie chicken, all of which are properly applied to other birds.
Why is the ruffed grouse called the drummer?
The Ruffed Grouse is only distantly related to the Gray Partridge, which is a bird of open areas, not woodlands. In the spring, the male Ruffed Grouse makes a throbbing put put put put purrrrr sound that resembles a far-off motor boat—hence, his nickname of “drummer.”
What do the colours of the grouse mean?
The colours worn by the grouse are related to their habitat: the dark-coloured grouse inhabit dark forest, as on the coast; grey grouse live in lighter bush. This camouflage helps protect the grouse from their predators.
Grouse are gallinaceous birds and are related to quail, turkeys, pheasants and ptarmigan. The ruffed grouse is found throughout much of the northern part of North America in areas of suitable habitat.
Where can I find a grouse in Pennsylvania?
Grouse are found throughout Pennsylvania in suitable habitat and are year-round residents. Adults in good habitat rarely range more than a few hundred yards a day unless pressed by predators or hunters; in fact, the same bird may be flushed from the same area in the woods several days in a row.
How long does it take for grouse to recover?
Since the quality of grouse cover declines 15-20 years following disturbance, repeated disturbance (e.g., intensive harvests) is absolutely critical for the long-term persistence of grouse in an area. Ruffed Grouse response to man varies greatly across their range, depending upon their experiences.
How can GIS help with grouse conservation in Pennsylvania?
GIS personnel can now take those variables and model them across the Pennsylvania landscape. The maps generated show where grouse habitat investments have a high chance of paying off for the birds, based on the best available science.