But while the exact plant species are different, the same basic concept applies: thick cover. In the winter, it flies into tree branches and feeds on the buds and catkins of deciduous trees. If you can find densely growing trees and young forest habitats, there’s a good chance you’ll find grouse there. Diet. Even the iconic wild turkey is not really equipped to handle all the elements of the north country. (2000) and The Wildlife Series Ruffed Grouse by Atwater and Schnell (1989). Ruffed Grouse are one of the most well adapted bird species for winter. Since ruffed grouse can and do survive across Canada, the northern half of our country, and even down into Georgia along the Appalachian Mountains, the habitats vary greatly. Adult grouse like grapes, cherries, berries and apples, among other fruits and eat these items almost exclusively, except when the hens are getting ready to lay eggs and need more meat protein in their diet, such as insects. It also eats insects and small snakes and frogs. HABITAT SUITABILITY INDEX MODELS: RUFFED GROUSE by Brian S. Cade Colorado Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO 80523 and Patrick J. Sousa Habitat Evaluation Procedures Group Western Energy and Land Use Team U.S. Dan Dessecker of Rice Lake holds a ruffed grouse brought to him by Blu, his 3-year-old German short-haired retriever, on a ruffed grouse hunt in Rusk County. This is why so many birds migrate, from song birds and waterfowl to our beloved American Woodcock. The ruffed grouse is one species that makes a big initial "investment" by producing 11 eggs to ensure that some of the chicks will make it through the critical summer period and through the winter to … Perhaps the most remarkable display of parental courage for a creature of its size is seen in the hen ruffed grouse. This bird will aggressively confront and challenge any human that happens to come too close to its recently hatched chicks. Life Cycle. Photo taken Oct. 20, 2011 by Paul A. Smith.
This document is an update of the 1985 Ruffed Grouse Assessment written by R. Bradford Allen. The male ruffed grouse attracts mates and defends his territory by drumming! For a thorough review of Ruffed Grouse natural history and conservation throughout its North American range, the reader is referred to The Birds of North America account for Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) by Rusch et al. The abundance of ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) has declined over a broad region in the Appalachian Mountains in the last 3 decades.
Deep snow can prove to be a real hazard to turkeys. Commercial food with high protein content is a good idea at this time, although the grouse hens probably will hunt insects. We determined empirical support for different hypothesized causes of declines: habitat loss, forest maturation, and the introduction of West Nile virus (WNV) in the early 2000s. There are few bird species known to take winter well. Fish and Wildlife Service Drake Creekside Building One 2627 Redwing Road Fort Collins, CO 80526-2899 Western Energy and Land … In the summer, the ruffed grouse eats seeds, and fruits like thorn apples, blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries. General Ruffed Grouse Habitat.