Nonmigratory Species: Grouse

Ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) has several common names. “Partridge” reflects early Americans’ memory of Old World partridges. They live on seeds, insects, and so on, found by scratching through the leaf litter beneath brush and brambles of upland forests. They also feed on buds, fruits, and leaves of several trees and shrubs. While they do not migrate, family groups tend to disperse in early fall, ensuring genetic diversity. Adult birds weigh approximately twenty-four ounces.