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Partridge (Ruffed Grouse). Bonasa umbellus Live 7-8 years in the wild. Identification. Small head crest Mottled red-brown color overall Black shoulder patches Red-brown tail has a broad black band and pale tip. Range.
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Partridge (Ruffed Grouse) Bonasaumbellus Live 7-8 years in the wild.
Identification • Small head crest • Mottled red-brown color overall • Black shoulder patches • Red-brown tail has a broad black band and pale tip
Range • The Ruffed Grouse can be found in the northern United States and the majority of Canada • The Ruffed Grouse is a non-migratory bird
Habitat • In mating season the Ruffed Grouse prefers woodlots and forested areas with small clearings • During the winter it can be found in forests of all types and urban areas
Diet • The Partridge searches the ground, bushes and trees for buds, leaves, flowers, ferns, catkins, fruits, acorns, and insects
Mating • To attract mates, the male drums on a fallen log • The males and females both mate with multiple members of the opposite sex • The female raises the young alone
Nesting • The female partridge builds a nest in a shallow depression among leaf litter usually beside boulders or at the base of a tree • The female incubates 9-12 eggs for 23-25 days
The Young • The chicks hatch in about 24 days and hunt for insects shortly after • The mother partridge takes care of the hatchlings until they can roost on their own in the trees • The young will learn to fly when they are 10-12 days old and will reach independence by the time they are 16-18 weeks old
Voice • Male: quiet overall except for mating when he makes a drumming sound to attract females • Female: nasal squeal, soft clucks and hisses • A recording of the male drumming can be found: http://macaulaylibrary.org/audio/2384
Interesting Facts • In the winter, the partridge may dive into soft snow and spend the night • Ruffed Grouse populations go through 8-11 year cycles that follow the population of the snowshoe hare in the area. When the population of snowshoe hare goes up, predators are attracted which also go after the ruffed grouse • The predators of the ruffed grouse include large birds, wild cats and dogs, and humans.
Work Cited • http://www.maine.gov/ifw/wildlife/species/ruffed_grouse/ruffedgrouse_sprucegrouse.htm • http://ic2.pbase.com/v3/29/336929/1/45132899.QET7973RuffedGrouseField.jpg • http://www.dec.ny.gov/images/wildlife_images/grouse.jpg • http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruffed_Grouse/lifehistory
http://www.tarleton.edu/Departments/range/Woodlands%20and%20Forest/Longleaf%20Pine/Photo%20Slides/0246quaking%20aspen%20grove.jpghttp://www.tarleton.edu/Departments/range/Woodlands%20and%20Forest/Longleaf%20Pine/Photo%20Slides/0246quaking%20aspen%20grove.jpg • http://farm1.static.flickr.com/70/226655135_b46676f723.jpg • http://media.wbng.com/images/320*240/ruffed+grouse+partridge+eggs+nest+050109sr+039sm.jpg • http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/ruffedgrouse.htm
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/182/373711755_62e40865cf.jpg?v=0http://farm1.static.flickr.com/182/373711755_62e40865cf.jpg?v=0 • http://macaulaylibrary.org/audio/2384 • http://www.maine.gov/ifw/wildlife/species/ruffed_grouse/ruffedgrouse_sprucegrouse.htm • Petersen, Wayne R., and Roger Burrows. Birds of New England. [Edmonton]: Lone Pine Pub., 2004. Print.