Ruffed Grouse

Description:

9-10 inch bird, black crown and eye stripe, white stripes above eye and on chin. Rust colored body with white/buff outlined spots.

Habitat:

This little girl was shuffling through the leaves by the garage. Hilly woodlands, Smoky Mountains, Tennessee.

Notes:

She didn't seem to be really afraid of me; I could get to about five feet from her without her running a foot or two away. She spent about an hour here and we haven't seen (or heard from) her again.