Came Upon Ruffed Grouse – also known as Partridge
Recently, my wife and I came across a couple of Ruffed Grouse while hiking in the woods on the crust. Ruffed Grouse are commonly known as partridge here. The above ruffed grouse could hear me coming and flew onto a tree, fluffed out to warn the other one of danger.
Some interesting tidbits, the ruffed grouse can : 1) hover and make complete turns in the air when flying through thick bush 2) spread their toes whike walking on snow. 3) drum, the males do this during mating season to attract females and keep males away. Drumming is caused when the male bird cups his wings and rapidly beats them against the air.