Ruffed Grouse Eggs Hatching
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
If you stumble, as I did, upon a female Ruffed Grouse whose eggs have recently hatched, be prepared for her fury! When I entered nearby woods, the mother charged at me with her crest raised, tail spread and ruffs (black neck feathers) erect. (Her chicks had dispersed prior to this, well hidden by their camouflaged down.) Fiercely protective, female grouse with young are known for their aggressive behavior. A large grouse might weigh two pounds – to tackle a human weighing more than 50 times as much as oneself is pretty impressive.June 20, 2012 | Categories: Adaptations, Bird Nests, Birds, Egg laying, June, Nests | Tags: Bird Defenses, bird nests, Bonasa umbellus, Galliformes, Gallinaceous birds, Partridge, ruffed grouse, Ruffs | 4 Comments »
What Other Naturally Curious People Are Saying