A History of North American Birds; Land Birds; Vol. 3 of 3

by Spencer Fullerton Baird; T. M. Brewer; Robert Ridgway

The specimens of Ruffed Grouse from the Pacific coast differ very greatly from others in much darker tints of coloration, although the pattern is precisely the same. The upper parts are dark orange-chestnut, mottled with black, the cordate light spots very distinct. The feathers of the breast are strongly tinged with reddish-yellow; those of the sides marked with broad and conspicuous bars of black, instead of the obsolete brown. The under tail-coverts are orange-chestnut, with indistinct bars of black, and an angular terminal blotch of white. All the light brown blotches and edgings of the eastern variety are here dark brown or black. The jugular band between the ruffles is very conspicuously black. Specimens from Eastern Oregon and Washington have dark gray tails, and thus incline toward var. umbelloides.

Habits. The Western Ruffed Grouse was found abundant by Dr. Suckley in the timbered districts throughout Oregon and Washington Territory. Its habits seemed to be identical with those of the eastern birds. Owing to the mildness of the season in the vicinity of Fort Steilacoom, the males commence drumming as early as January, and in February they are heard to drum throughout the night. In the autumn they collect in great numbers in the crab-apple thickets near the salt marshes at the mouths of the rivers emptying into Puget Sound. There they feed for about six weeks on the ripe fruit of the northwestern crab-apple, the Pyrus rivularis of Nuttall.

Dr. Cooper also speaks of this Grouse as very abundant everywhere about the borders of woods and clearings. It was common near the forests east of the Cascade Mountains up to the 49th degree. These birds vary in plumage there, a pale-grayish hue predominating. West of the mountains they are all of a very dark brown. There was, however, no perceptible difference in their habits or cries from those of the same bird elsewhere.

Mr. J. K. Lord assigns to this species an extended geographical range west of the Rocky Mountains,—from the borders of California, throughout Oregon and Washington Territories, extending high up on the slopes of the Rocky Mountains, plentiful in all the timbered lands between the Cascades and the rocky ruts along the banks of the Columbia, over the ridge of the Cascades, and down their western slopes to Frazer’s River, in all the islands of the Gulf of Georgia, and everywhere on Vancouver Island to its extreme northern end, and on the mainland as far north as latitude 53°. The habits of this Grouse are described as singularly erratic, and its food as varied in its character. In the spring their favorite haunt is in the vicinity of stagnant pools, or in the brush around a marsh in which the wild swamp-crab, the black birch, and the alder grow. In such places they mate, and during the breeding-season are said to be very constant and devoted. During the time of pairing, and at intervals after their young are hatched, the male produces the sound known as drumming. The bird is said to squat on a log or a fallen tree, motionless as though it had no life. Suddenly all the feathers appear as if reversed, the tail is erected, the ruff round its neck stands out stiff and rigid, and the wings droop as if broken. These slowly vibrate, and then produce a sound loud and clear, like the thrum of a double-bass string. Then the wings move with increased rapidity, and the sound becomes a continuous throbbing hum. It then suddenly ceases, and after a few minutes the same performance is repeated.

Mr. Lord also states that he has seen the males of this species fighting furiously during the pairing season. Ruffing up their necks, with their heads and backs almost in a straight line, and with wings dropped, they circle round and round each other, striking and pecking until the vanquished gives in, and the victor mounts upon a log and proceeds to drum furiously.

Their nest is completed about the end of May, and is always placed under a log on the ground, or at the foot of a bush. It is composed of a quantity of dead leaves, lined with dry grasses, bits of moss, and a few feathers.

Mr. Lord adds that he found at least ten nests of this bird in one swamp near the Spokane Prairies. From ten to fourteen eggs was about the average number; they are described as in color of a dirty white, and without any spots or freckles of a darker shade. The chickens at once leave the nest and follow their mother, who calls them with a clucking sound, in the manner of a Hen, covers them when resting, and uses all kinds of feints and stratagems to lure an intruder from her young, fluttering along close to his feet as if her wings were entirely disabled, and then, when her chickens have had time to conceal themselves, suddenly darting off. When frightened, this Grouse rises with a loud rattling sound; but its natural upward movement is noiseless.

After the chickens are old enough, the flock removes to open hillsides where grass-seed, berries, and insects are in abundance. This Grouse never packs, but remains in broods. In the fall, before they begin to feed on the spruce buds, their flesh is said to be delicious; but after the snow shuts them off from other food they feed on the fir buds, and then their flesh acquires a strong flavor of turpentine.

In the tree this Grouse is not an easy bird to discover; so closely does its plumage resemble the lichen-covered bark that it is difficult to distinguish them, especially as, when alarmed, they crouch down lengthwise with the limb, and thus become concealed.