Wildlife Species - BIRDS - Ruffed Grouse

The ruffed grouse, a game species in New Hampshire, has suffered from extensive habitat loss over the past 50 years. Ruffed grouse depend on early-successional habitat (areas with re-growing vegetation such as shrubs and young trees).

Click here to read the NH Wildlife Action Plan profile of the ruffed grouse, detailing the current status, threats to the species, research needs, and recommended conservation actions to help ruffed grouse in New Hampshire.

Ruffed grouse require four different habitat components in close proximity:
1. Thick, dense young forests for cover and raising young;
2. Mature forests for nesting and feeding on acorns, nuts and tree buds;
3. Sunny openings for foraging on insects with their young; and
4. Large fallen logs, from which males make their mating calls (rapidly beating their wings to produce a dumming sound).

Ruffed Grouse Habitat Management - Links

• The Ruffed Grouse Society website contains several articles about managemeng habitats for ruffed grouse.
• The Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources website has information about the natural history of grouse, as well as recommendations for habitat management to benefit ruffed grouse.
• The Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife offers a website detailing the differences between Ruffed Grouse (game bird) and Spruce Grouse (illegal to hunt in NH)
• The Univ. of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension offers a publication on the ecology of ruffed grouse

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