Ruffed grouse

Description:

Chicken-sized bird, wandering around alone and apparently unafraid of humans. This one doesn't show a ruff or crest, so perhaps it's a female. It walks the apple tree branches and shaves off the buds emerging from the twigs, eating them. Other times it wanders the strawberry garden in winter, eating the leaves.

Habitat:

Old growth mixed forest at about 500', about 3 miles from the Pacific Ocean.

Notes:

The grouse are always alone, but it appears from past pictures that they are different individuals that we see. They have variously flew to roost on someone's head, to riding on the luggage rack of a car down the hill. They are more commonly spotted in winter when the berry leaves have fallen.