They seldom fly more than a couple hundred yards, but can hover and make complete turns in the air when flying through thick brush.They spend most of their time on the ground.During winter when snow covers the ground, grouse rely on eating the buds and catkins (slender flower cluster) of trees and shrubs such as aspen, cherry, birch, ironwood, and apple. Adult grouse eat a wide variety of fruits, seeds, leaves, buds, and insects. Young grouse chicks eat insects and small invertebrates, gradually switching over to adult diets. Males will puff up these feathers and fan out their tails to attract females or warn off other males. Similar in appearance, male grouse are slightly larger than females (hens) possessing long, shiny, black neck feathers. Grouse have broad, flat, fan-shaped tails with a dark band near the tip. Grouse feathers are mottled with white and black which helps them blend into the forest floor and hide from predators. Some birds, however, exhibit a combination of both colors. Gray phase birds tend to occur in colder northern areas, while brown phase birds occur in warmer southern areas. Ruffed grouse come in two basic color phases. Though these birds go unseen by many, the familiar drumming performed by males, especially in spring, keys people into their presence. Also known as "partridge", they are year-round residents of New York State. Round, plump birds a little larger than pigeons, ruffed grouse are a favorite of birders and hunters alike.
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