4 The Ruffed Grouse 



clear rufous brown transversed by a series of from six to eleven thin 

 black bars. The tip of the tail is gray, but there is a broad black 

 subterminal band that shows clearly in flight. The band is often 

 broken widi gray on the center feathers, especially in the females. 



The lower parts vary from whitish to gi'ayish or bulfy white, tend- 

 ing mostly toward buff on the lower neck and upper breast. Numer- 

 ous short bars of brown or blackish, daikest along the sides and fad- 

 ing toward the center, break up the gray background. The under 

 wings and under tail coverts are predominantly an even gray or 

 buff. 



The beak is dark brown, the iris hazel, and the feet dark horn 

 color. The tarsi are spaisely feathered above, naked below. Dirring 

 the winter months lateral pectinations appear on the toes, commonly 

 and aptly known as "snowshoes." When spring comes these ap- 

 pendages are shed. 



Plumage Differences Between the Sexes. The full-grown male is 

 consistently larger and heavier than tlie full-grown female, although 

 large females may match small males in these respects. The rectrices 

 of the male are from sLx to seven and one-haff inches long, while 

 those of the female are from four and one-half to sLx and one-quarter, 

 thus giving tlie male a distinctly longer tail. The ruff is relatively 

 prominent on the male as compared with the female, always con- 

 tinuous across the breast where that of the female fades. The broad, 

 black subterminal tail band is always broken with gray in the fe- 

 male, but is usuallv continuous in the male. The colors of the female 

 are generally more subdued than those of the male and there is 

 usually a slight pinkish wash to the brown of the forebreast. During 

 the breeding season the male has a bright reddish naked patch over 

 the eye that is not developed in the female. 



With a bird in the hand, the sex is readily perceptible in almost 

 all cases because of one or more of these characters, even though 

 they are not each always constant. In the field the lengdi of tail is 

 a safe indicator most of the time, while niff and tail band will often 

 aid in making the sex identification. Sex identity in the wild may also 

 be aided by actions characteristic of males or females, such as broodi- 

 ness, drumming or strutting. 



Color Phases. For most parts of its range, the grouse exhibits wide 

 variation in basic ground color. Those birds with a rufous cast are 



