Birds Identified: Ruffed Grouse

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Ruffed Grouse has these characteristics:

• Walking, wading, running
  
• Larger than robin
  
• Head crested
  
• Mostly brownish, or with many brown streaks or spots
  
• Rust color present
  
• Cross barring
  
• Tail bands (across)
  
• North summer (June through August)
  
• North winter (November through February)
  
• South summer (June through August)
  
• South winter (November through February)
  
• Wood habitat
  
• Perched low (generally below middle of trees when perched or foraging)
  
• On ground (walking, wading, running, hopping, or resting on ground)
  
• Jerks tail or body (repeated dipping of body, or flipping or pumping of tail)
  
• Occurs in flocks (from 4 or 5 to thousands)
  
• Soft, low calls
  
• Staccato and twitter call (short sharp notes or rapid series of notes: tinkling, trilling, sputtering, or percussive)
  

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