Ruffed Grouse

Bonasa umbellus

no photo — written note
photo: Wikimedia Commons
BirdsSensitive species

A drumming forest grouse now nearly gone from the state as young forest has aged out.

Field facts
HabitatYoung regenerating hardwood forest
RangeA few southern Indiana forests
When to lookYear-round; drumming in spring
StatusState species of greatest conservation need (Indiana DNR / IUCN Red List)
Look-alikesHen pheasant

Field note: The drumming sound comes from wingbeats compressing air, not from a log.

Lesson
Watching responsibly

Report any sighting or drumming to DNR — records are valuable.

This species is treated as sensitive: locations are generalised to county level and never routed to directly.

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