Ruffed grouse, also known as partridge, are medium-sized birds in the grouse family that are found throughout much of North America. As their habitat and nesting behaviors go, ruffed grouse are perhaps best known for their dramatic, aerial mating displays during breeding season. But when it comes to actually building a nest and laying eggs, do these birds make their nests on the ground or up in trees?
Quick Answer
Yes, ruffed grouse do build their nests directly on the ground in wooded or brushy areas. They do not build nests up in trees. The hen scrapes out a shallow depression in leaf litter on the forest floor and lines it with grass, leaves, and feathers for her eggs.
Ruffed Grouse Habitat Preferences
Ruffed grouse inhabit various woodland habitats across their wide range, including:
- Aspen forests
- Birch and poplar stands
- Coniferous forests with a mix of deciduous trees
- Overgrown farmland
- Young forests with dense understory vegetation
- Brushy thickets
They frequent both mature and successional forests, though younger forests with a dense shrub layer provide important cover. Ruffed grouse spend most of their time on the ground, foraging among the leaf litter and vegetation. This ground-dwelling lifestyle influences their nesting habits.
Nest Location
Ruffed grouse build nests on the forest floor, hidden among leafy groundcover. The hen selects a secluded, sheltered site and scrapes out a shallow depression in the leaf litter. This may be situated at the base of a tree, log, or underbrush. Favorite nesting spots include:
- At the base of tree trunks
- Near fallen logs
- Under low-growing shrubs and branches
Nests are typically concealed by surrounding ferns, grass tufts, brush, or drooping boughs. The hen lines the nest scrape with leaves, grass, pine needles, and feathers. The eggs are well-camouflaged when the hen is away from the nest.
Nest Materials
The ruffed grouse’s nest consists of:
- Leaf litter scrapings from the forest floor
- Grass, leaves, needles, and twigs arranged in the shallow depression
- Down feathers plucked from the hen’s breast to line the inner nest
The leaves, grass, and needles provide insulation but the feathers likely serve an additional purpose. The hen’s exposed belly feathers transmit her body heat directly to the eggs. The feathers hold heat longer than plant materials alone.
Clutch Size
A single ruffed grouse clutch consists of 9 to 14 eggs. The eggs are buff-colored with brown speckles. The hen lays one egg per day until completing her clutch. Then she starts incubating them.
Incubation and hatching
Only the female incubates the eggs. Incubation lasts 23-24 days. For much of this time, the hen sits tight on the nest, leaving only briefly to eat and drink.
Hatching of the chicks is synchronized, with all eggs hatching within several hours of each other. The precocial young leave the nest within a day and begin foraging on their own. The female escorts them but does not directly care for them.
Nest Success Rates
Nest success varies but often less than half of ruffed grouse nests successfully hatch chicks. Some key nest failure factors include:
- Mammalian nest predators – Skunks, foxes, raccoons, snakes
- Abandonment by the hen due to disturbance
- Weather events like flooding
- Haying during nesting season if nests are in meadows
Hens that lose their first nest may attempt to re-nest. Renesting efforts are more successful later in the season as predator populations decline.
Location | Nest Success Rate |
---|---|
Michigan | 53% |
Minnesota | 48% |
New York | 39% |
Evolutionary Advantages
Nesting on the ground rather than in trees offers some advantages for ruffed grouse:
- They inhabit forest floors so can conveniently construct nests nearby food resources.
- Nests are hidden from aerial predators by dense ground vegetation.
- It’s energetically easier and safer to travel on foot between nest and foraging areas.
- Their mottled plumage provides camouflage when sitting on nests.
- Ground nests may retain heat better than elevated nests exposed to elements.
Despite downsides like mammalian predators, ground nesting works well for these resident woodland birds. Their cryptic coloring, cover, and communal nesting dispersion help offset ground threats.
Other Ground-Nesting Birds
Many other birds beyond ruffed grouse nest on the ground, including:
- Wild turkeys
- Killdeer
- Quail
- Pheasants
- Ovenbirds
- Nighthawks
- Grouse species
- Capercaillies
- Ptarmigan
Ground nesting is common in birds that live much of their lives on the ground or lack the foot and beak adaptations for building complicated nests up on branches. It allows direct access to forest floor resources.
Conclusion
In summary, ruffed grouse select sheltered spots on the forest floor to scrap out shallow depressions for their nests, lining the interior with grass, leaves, and feathers. Their ground nesting habits align with their ground-dwelling nature as they forage and take cover in the dense understory vegetation. Though ground nests have risks, ruffed grouse have evolved adaptations to help conceal their nests from predators. Their nesting strategy fits their niche as resident forest birds.