Grouse are a type of gamebird that belong to the genus Bonasa. There are several species of grouse, including ruffed grouse, spruce grouse, dusky grouse, sooty grouse, and more. Grouse are ground-nesting birds known for their plump bodies and feathered legs. They inhabit wooded areas across North America, Europe, and Asia. But do these birds make any noises?
Grouse Vocalizations
Yes, grouse do produce vocalizations, especially during the breeding season. Male grouse make distinctive sounds to attract females and defend territories. Here are some of the noises grouse make:
Drumming
One of the most iconic grouse sounds is drumming. Male ruffed grouse and spruce grouse rapidly beat their wings to produce a thumping sound. This drumming serves to attract female grouse and warn other males away. The wings beat at a blurring speed of 15 to 30 times per second. Drumming carries well through the forest. Grouse often perch on logs to help amplify their drumming sounds.
Cooing
In addition to drumming, male spruce grouse make a soft hooting or cooing sound. This vocalization helps females pinpoint the location of males. Females are often drawn to the area when they hear cooing.
Cackling
Ruffed grouse are famous for the cackling sounds males make when defending territory. If a rival male grouse encroaches, the defending male will make a whining cackle to signal aggression. This warns the intruder to stay away.
Clucking
Female grouse cluck to gather their chicks. The soft clucking provides comfort to chicks and keeps the brood together. If chicks start to stray, the clucking calls them back to the hen.
Wing sounds
Grouse produce sounds with their wings when taking off in alarm or defending territory. The rapid wing beats make a whirring or thrashing noise. This serves to startle predators or competing grouse.
What Does Grouse Drumming Sound Like?
The drumming of male grouse produces a resonant, thumping sound. The noise has been likened to the starting and revving of a distant engine or motorcycle. Drumming starts with a few slow thumps, then rapidly accelerates to a fast whirring. Brief pauses separate each drumming burst. The drumming of ruffed grouse is deeper and lower-pitched than spruce grouse. Ruffed grouse make lower-frequency thumps around 82 Hz compared to 150 Hz for spruce grouse. This means the ruffed grouse’s drumming is perceived as a deeper throbbing sound.
Drumming Acoustics
The structure of grouse wings allows them to drum so efficiently. Stiff feathers on the outer wings provide resonant properties. When the wings beat down, they push air downwards. As the wings flick upward, the feathers spring back into position, sucking air up to produce a vacuum. This rapid downward and upward air movement makes the thumping sound. Grouse can drum for longer by alternating which wing is in the downstroke position.
When Do Grouse Make Noises?
Grouse vocalize most often during the breeding season in spring and summer. Drumming plays a key role in courtship displays. Males drum to attract females and repel competing males. Drumming activity peaks in the early morning and evening when conditions are quieter. The sounds can carry further in the still, moist air. Cool temperatures also prevent males from overheating during their intense drumming displays. Males drum from forested drumming sites like logs, rocky outcrops, tree stumps, or branches. They return to the same sites each spring. Dominant older males occupy the best drumming locations.
Other Noisy Times
Grouse also make noise outside of the breeding season. They may drum in the fall to re-establish territory boundaries. Fluttering wing sounds help startle predators during an encounter. Cackling occurs year-round as males defend resources. And females cluck to gather chicks after hatching in the summer months.
What Does Grouse Drumming Communicate?
Grouse drumming serves several communicative purposes:
- Attracting females for mating
- Establishing territory and intimidating rivals
- Impressing females by demonstrating fitness
- Warning intruders to stay away
Dominant, robust males are able to drum frequently and vigorously. This shows females that they have good genes and are worthy mates. Drumming starts early in the season when males are establishing territories. It peaks when females are most receptive. The rate and intensity of drumming reflect the male’s condition and status. Older males generally drum with greater intensity than younger ones.
Vocal Differences Between Species
Each grouse species has signature drumming patterns and sounds that help identify their presence:
- Ruffed grouse – Low, pulsating thumps in bursts of 6-8 beats
- Spruce grouse – Higher-pitched whirring
- Greater sage-grouse – Slower inflations of esophageal air sacs
- Capercaillie – Rapid double clicks
The timing, speed, pitch, and structure of sounds allow grouse to pinpoint competitors versus potential mates. Regional drumming dialects also exist within ruffed grouse populations.
Interesting Facts About Grouse Noises
- Grouse drumming can reach over 100 decibels, as loud as a chainsaw.
- Drumming sound intensity correlates to higher mating success.
- Males drum from the same logs year after year, with prime locations used for decades.
- Young grouse develop drumming skills through play fighting with siblings.
- Some Native American tribes interpreted grouse drumming as an omen.
- Biologists monitor drumming rates to assess grouse population trends.
- Grouse drumming inspired poems by Robert Frost and Henry David Thoreau.
- Spruce grouse make squeaking sounds by contracting special neck muscles.
- Grouse carry parasites that can alter their drumming patterns to attract more hosts.
Conclusion
Grouse rely heavily on auditory signals to communicate during the breeding season. Males drum to attract females and defend territories from rivals. Unique drumming patterns identify each species. Females also vocalize to care for their chicks. Grouse produce a diversity of sounds with their specialized feathers and anatomy. These remarkable noises are a signature feature of the spring soundtrack in northern forests around the world.