Ruffed grouse

Ruffed grouse walking on the forest floor beside patches of snow

The ruffed grouse is a plump, well camouflaged bird of the forest floor, with barred and mottled brown and grey feathers, a small crest on the head, and a fanned tail with a dark band near the tip. It spends most of its time on the ground in aspen and mixed woods, and it is easy to walk right past.

In spring, males beat their wings on a log to make a low, drumming thump that carries through the woods. In fall and winter they feed on buds and berries, and they often stand quietly in the open.

To learn more about this bird and its habitat, visit the Ruffed grouse page at All About Birds.

These are my favourite frames of a ruffed grouse, taken on the forest floor in the fall.

Field notes in photographs

  • Ruffed grouse walking on the forest floor beside patches of snow
  • Ruffed grouse standing in grass beneath spruce, barred brown plumage

Ruffed grouse Manitoba sightings

Where and when you can find the ruffed grouse in Manitoba depends on the season and the habitat. You can see more species in the Manitoba birds section.

Map of Manitoba showing where the ruffed grouse lives year-round, with major cities and lakes
Where to look for the ruffed grouse in Manitoba through the seasons: living year-round in the Boreal Shield, the Boreal Plains, and the Prairies (teal). Habitat regions: National Ecological Framework for Canada. Boundaries: Statistics Canada. Lakes: Natural Earth.

Back to Manitoba bird photography, or see the portfolio.

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