Pennsylvania's State Bird, The Ruffed Grouse
Posted 07-29-2008 at 08:35 PM by poconoproud
The state game bird of Pennsylvania is the ruffed grouse. Sometimes referred to as a partridge, this well-camaflouged brown and red colored bird is known for a drumming noise that it makes when attracting a mate.
This game bird's population is in danger of being in decline due to rural and suburban development. Grouse love to hunt & peck through the underbrush and through deciduous forested areas for blueberries, insects, and the buds of aspen and cherry trees. Building in these areas changes the habitat's of these territorial, chicken-like birds. An ideal situation for a single brood of grouse to not feel overcrowed, is nine acres. Although usually loners, this bird travels in broods during the mating season.
Many a hunter or hiker has gotten a good scare as a ruffed grouse thunderously exploded from beneath the mountain laurels, blasting past them in a flurry of feathers.
Hawks, owls and human beings are some predators of the ruffed grouse.
The male grouse has a small, red or gray crest on it's head; and displays a banded, fan shaped tail during courtship. Males also have a neck "ruff" which they display for females during mating, hence the name "ruffed grouse".
This game bird's population is in danger of being in decline due to rural and suburban development. Grouse love to hunt & peck through the underbrush and through deciduous forested areas for blueberries, insects, and the buds of aspen and cherry trees. Building in these areas changes the habitat's of these territorial, chicken-like birds. An ideal situation for a single brood of grouse to not feel overcrowed, is nine acres. Although usually loners, this bird travels in broods during the mating season.
Many a hunter or hiker has gotten a good scare as a ruffed grouse thunderously exploded from beneath the mountain laurels, blasting past them in a flurry of feathers.
Hawks, owls and human beings are some predators of the ruffed grouse.
The male grouse has a small, red or gray crest on it's head; and displays a banded, fan shaped tail during courtship. Males also have a neck "ruff" which they display for females during mating, hence the name "ruffed grouse".
Total Comments 2
Comments
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I love Pennsylvania and the beauty of it's rolling mountains and the beautiful Allegheny River.
There is a Pennsylvania start song but I think the song
Sunny James wrote about Pennsylvania is better.
► "Country music, shania twain, sunny james, grand ole opray,garth brookes," ♪ I use to work out in the woods as a well tender and tamed a wild grouse I named him peeker. He would walk at my side through the woods and sit on my shoulder. Peeker really liked to eat apples and bananas and raisins. They are a beautiful bird.Posted 11-08-2008 at 02:06 PM by songbird2222
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I never knew there was a song about PA! that is neat!
I can't believe you were able to tame a wild grouse...maybe he was part parrot?!Posted 11-09-2008 at 09:37 AM by poconoproud
