Ruffed Grouse
This Ruffed Grouse is in full display mode.
Ruffed Grouse in display
I couldn’t see the female he was displaying to, but he was so worked up, he looked like he was panting.
Ruffed Grouse backside
Here’s a view you usually don’t see photographed, but even his backside is beautiful. I love to look at the pattern in the feathers.
Now, I wonder if this is a “red phase” Ruffed Grouse. Compare him to the Grouse in this photo:
Ruffed Grouse, gray morph
Wow, the difference is remarkable!
Ruffed Grouse stand-off
And now when I look at this photo that I took last spring, it looks like the Grouse on the right is a ‘gray’ morph and the one on the left might be a ‘red’ morph.
OMG! These are wonderful! I’ve only ever seen the male display once and it was at a distance. Very nice photos to compare the color morphs. It’s hard to believe these birds can change their appearance so drastically.
The goofy Grouse seem like they display like this at the oddest times – in the fall they’ll display and even drum, then they take a break during the cold winter months, then in the spring they’re at it again. I haven’t heard any drumming yet, but then I’ve been in the house a lot.