Ruffed Grouse Wings
You can often determine the type of flight that a bird is capable of by looking at the shape of its wings. Long, narrow wings are excellent for gliding, while the short, rounded wings of a Ruffed Grouse allow for tight maneuvering in the dense forests where they live. The shape of their wings and their quick-contracting muscles equip grouse for the short bursts of high speed (not long distances) they take when feeding or evading predators. (Photo: a Ruffed Grouse walked a short way and then took flight, beating its wings against the snow twice before it was airborne.)
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Lovely shot. A beautiful grousy snow angel.
March 7, 2014 at 1:06 pm
I so love your blog and curiosity! Thank you.
March 7, 2014 at 2:48 pm
Wonderful photo!
March 7, 2014 at 3:11 pm
A fantastic shot!
March 9, 2014 at 4:17 pm
This is a truly impressive photo! Thanks, Mary!
March 10, 2014 at 3:14 am
Love the photo! I scared up two snow-roosted grouse while cross-country skiing the other day and it nearly made me trip and fall!
March 10, 2014 at 11:03 pm