Five Fascinating Ruffed Grouse Facts

Ruffed Grouse are a common bird near Ontario woodlands, though they aren't easily spotted thanks to their remarkable camouflage and slow movements. In fact, you're more likely to hear the fast and powerful wing beats of one as it darts away upon being walked up on. Though they are a common species, Ruffed Grouse have many unique traits that make them stand out from the crowd. 

Ruffed Grouse

1. Grouse create their own igloos 
When heavy snowfall hits, most animals seek out areas with lots of shelter and hunker down to keep warm. Grouse species on the other hand have a pretty unique way of dealing with the snow and cold -  they jump right into it! Once a grouse has found a deep and fluffy patch of snow, it finds a good angle, flies as fast as it can, and dives in headfirst, submerging its entire body deep in the snow. The body heat released creates a dome under the snow, essentially making a perfectly grouse-sized igloo that maintains a steady temperature of 20 degrees Fahrenheit or more.

Ruffed Grouse walking on snow

2. They have built-in snowshoes
Ruffed Grouse have their own au naturel snowshoes! Grouse spend much of their time in the snow during the winter months and have evolved to develop special scales to aid in navigating through all the white stuff. As winter approaches, grouse grow special comb-like scales that grow laterally from their toes. These projections increase the surface area of the foot, allowing them to function as built-in snowshoes. As the seasons change and spring approaches, the snowshoe scales begin to rub off on hard surfaces, leaving the feet ready to run on snow-free ground. 

Ruffed Grouse (male) drumming

3. They are master percussionists
Male Ruffed Grouse are excellent drummers - creating the sounds using only their bodies and air! In the spring, males stand up high on rocks, stumps, and other platforms and make a deep thumping sound to attract females & ward off other males from their territory. The resonating sound, that is often described as sounding similar to a distant motorboat or lawn mower, is created by the grouse puffing up his body, cupping his wings, and swiftly beating them against the air. Drumming displays can be heard from a quite a distance away and are performed throughout the day & night, more frequently just before sunrise and after dusk.

4. Grouse serve as foster parents from time to time
Brown-headed Cowbirds are our most well-known "brood parasites" in Ontario, but did you know that Wild Turkeys and Ring-necked Pheasants will drop their eggs in other birds' nests, too? When they do, Ruffed Grouse nests are often the target. A turkey or pheasant will lay an egg in the nest of a grouse who is already incubating her own eggs, and the grouse will raise the young as her own after it hatches. 

Ruffed Grouse eating seed spilled from feeding station

5. They will visit bird feeders!
Ruffed Grouse primarily feed on vegetation and will happily eat bird seed when it is available. You won't find one perched at a hopper or tube feeder, but if you live in grouse habitat don't be surprised if you look out your window one day to see one cleaning up the seed on the ground that's spilled from the feeders above. Grouse will also eat seed from tray feeders large enough to accommodate their size and weight.

You can help attract Ruffed Grouse to your yard by planting native plants that produce catkins, seeds, fruits, and flowers, and by providing lots of ground cover in the form of brush piles (if your yard can accommodate it) and native shrubs. Grouse will also drink from a low bird bath when given the opportunity.

Happy trails!
- Shayna