Photo: 72426950scott / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Game Birds

Ruffed Grouse

Bonasa umbellus

Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) — Gamebirds of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 17 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Canada Birds of the United States Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Manitoba Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador Birds of Nova Scotia Birds of Northwest Territories Birds of Ontario

By family

Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of Canada Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of the United States Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of Alberta Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of British Columbia Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of Manitoba Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of Nova Scotia Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of Ontario

See what's near you right now

The Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) is a member of the Phasianidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 531 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Galliformes
Family Phasianidae Pheasants & Allies
Genus Bonasa
Species umbellus

Where it lives

Alaska, Canada and northern USA

North America

Quick facts

Weight: 531 g
Diet: Plant-eaters
Family: Phasianidae
Order: Galliformes
Habitat: Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Vulnerable

Lesser Prairie Chicken

Tympanuchus pallidicinctus

Near Threatened

Caucasian Grouse

Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi

Least Concern

Sooty Grouse

Dendragapus fuliginosus

Least Concern

Dusky Grouse

Dendragapus obscurus

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Ruffed Grouse feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.

Behaviour

A bird of dense scrub and shrubland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.

Migration

The Ruffed Grouse is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) belongs to the Phasianidae family of the order Galliformes. Its range spans North America. Its distribution covers NA Alaska, Canada and n USA.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 531 g, with a wing length of about 18.3 cm and a tail of around 15.2 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 8.1 million km².

Songs & calls

Ruffed Grouse — Call

Recorded by Greg Irving Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Ruffed Grouse?

The Ruffed Grouse is a large bird that weighs around 531 g.

Where does the Ruffed Grouse live?

The Ruffed Grouse is found across North America with a range covering NA Alaska, Canada and n USA, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.

What family does the Ruffed Grouse belong to?

The Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) belongs to the Phasianidae family, in the order Galliformes.

What does the Ruffed Grouse eat?

The Ruffed Grouse feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.

Does the Ruffed Grouse migrate?

The Ruffed Grouse is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Ruffed Grouse endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Ruffed Grouse make?

1 real field recording of the Ruffed Grouse — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Ruffed Grouse's range?

The Ruffed Grouse has a mapped global range of about 8.1 million km².