What is the Ruffed grouse?

The ruffed grouse is a popular game bird in North America.  It is roughly the size of a chicken, with a small crest on its head.  It has banded, fan-like tail feathers with a distinctive "ruff" on its neck.  The grouse's legs have feathers to protect them in the harsh winter months.  The male and female of the species are very similar morpholgically (in looks) except that the female is a bit smaller.  The male ruffed grouse is most noted for its distinctive "drumming" which can be seen in a video on the reproduction page of this website.