Ruffed Grouse

This is a quintessential tail feather from a 'red-phase' Ruffed Grouse, a medium-sized forest bird known for its explosive flight. The Ruffed Grouse is famous for the male's drumming display, where it beats its wings to create a low-frequency thumping sound. The bird itself is mottled brown and gray, camouflaging perfectly with the forest floor leaf litter.

Red-phase coloration. Features a rufous-brown base color with intricate 'vermiculated' (worm-like) dark brown and gray mottling. A distinctive wide, subterminal dark brown/black band is visible near the tip, followed by a lighter gray terminal edge.

Densely pennaceous throughout the mid and upper vane for flight stability, becoming plumulaceous (downy) at the very base near the calamus. The barbs are well-interlocked, though showing some minor separation at the edges.

Relatively stiff and matte. The surface is not oily, as these are land-dwelling birds that rely on dust bathing rather than heavy preen oil for maintenance. The texture is slightly coarse to the touch.

The wide black subterminal band, rufous base color, and fine 'speckled' or vermiculated patterning are diagnostic for this species.

Deciduous and mixed forests, particularly those with young successional growth, aspen stands, and thickets. They prefer areas with dense underbrush for cover.

Non-migratory resident across much of northern North America, from Alaska across Canada to the Atlantic coast, and south into the northern United States and Appalachian Mountains.

An important prey species for raptors like Goshawks and various mammalian predators. They serve as an indicator of forest health, specifically the presence of diverse successional stages of timber.

Spruce Grouse feathers are darker/blacker with a distinct orange tip. Dusky or Sooty Grouse feathers are larger, darker gray, and lack the heavy rufous vermiculation.

The Ruffed Grouse is the state bird of Pennsylvania. In winter, they grow 'pectinations' (comb-like fringes) on their toes that act like natural snowshoes, allowing them to walk on top of deep snow.

Good condition. The feather shows natural wear at the tip and some barb separation (vane splitting), likely due to the bird moving through dense brush or from the molting process.