Male Ruffed Grouse: Bonasa umbellus

On November 20, 2019November 19, 2019 By Mike and Christy

Male_ruffed_grouse_12094

We caught each other by surprise this afternoon. Both walking quietly through the woods me on the trail he through the brush. Once we eyed each other I reached for the camera and got a quick photo. Head held high gave me the once over before quickly flying off into the woods. A quick and satisfying encounter for me and given I was not a hunter for him as well.

According to the climate change model used by the Audubon Society this species is projected to shift mostly out of the conterminous 48 states if temperatures rise 3 degrees C.

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13 thoughts on “Male Ruffed Grouse: Bonasa umbellus”

Eliza Waters

For the first time in the 29 summers we’ve lived here, the woods were silent of the drumming of ruffed grouse. I’m hoping it was just the bad winter last year and a one-off season, but disturbing nonetheless. We missed them.

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November 20, 2019 at 1:04 pm Reply
1. Mike Bizeau
  
  Hi Eliza, we hope it was just a bad year for the grouse in your area we have seen a few this fall but not in the amount we have in the past.
  
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  November 26, 2019 at 11:09 pm Reply
  1. Eliza Waters
    
    Thanks, me, too.
    
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    November 26, 2019 at 11:11 pm Reply
C.S. Young Jr.

Amazing camouflage!

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November 20, 2019 at 11:58 pm Reply
1. Mike Bizeau
  
  It is pretty cool how evolution works all the way down to the last feather. Hop your having a wonderfull week.
  
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  November 26, 2019 at 11:10 pm Reply
Jet Eliot

Oh how I love to see this bird, so difficult to spot, and not abundant. I have done some pretty crazy things trying to just see this magnificent bird, so this photo was a big treat, thanks Mike.

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November 21, 2019 at 7:27 pm Reply
1. Mike Bizeau
  
  HI Jet, well heres to good luck find a few next time you go out looking but…avoid the crazy stuff. Hope your week is off to wonderful start.
  
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  November 26, 2019 at 11:11 pm Reply
africanbirding

Reblogged this on Wolf's Birding and Bonsai Blog.

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November 24, 2019 at 7:05 am Reply
1. Mike Bizeau
  
  Thanks for sharing with your readers.
  
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  November 26, 2019 at 11:11 pm Reply
Ellen Jennings

Nice you got a fleeting look and lovely capture of this beauty. Thanks for adding info about their likely habitat shift.

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November 26, 2019 at 1:16 am Reply
1. Mike Bizeau
  
  Thanks Ellen, we never seem to get a prolonged view of these birds. It would be a pity for them to disappear from our region.
  
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  November 26, 2019 at 11:12 pm Reply
  1. Ellen Jennings
    
    Yes it would be a pity–so many consequences throughout our ecosystems. We get excited to see new bird species in our area but need to acknowledge that it likely means that some factor isn’t as welcoming to another species that previously thrived here.
    
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    November 28, 2019 at 9:50 pm Reply
    1. Mike Bizeau
      
      That is a good observation, We have regular blue jays being observed in our area. An occurrence that is very new and probably related to habitat loss in other places.
      
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      November 29, 2019 at 8:08 pm Reply