Pennsylvania State Bird: Ruffed Grouse
Fact-checked • Updated November 27, 2024
Pennsylvania State Bird – Ruffed Grouse
Pennsylvania adopted the Ruffed Grouse as its official state game bird on June 22, 1931, the same day legislators designated the Eastern Hemlock as state tree. Mrs. Harry J. Shoemaker, chairman of the State Federation of Women's Clubs, championed the grouse selection. The bird provided early settlers with an important food source and remains Pennsylvania's most popular game bird. Males perform a unique drumming display during spring courtship, beating air with their wings to create deep, thumping sounds that echo through young forests.
Why Pennsylvania Chose This Bird
Early settlers depended on grouse for food. Ruffed Grouse filled cooking pots during colonial times. Forests provided habitat across Pennsylvania. Walk through mixed woodland and you hear a loud wing-beating sound when they fly away. Hunters knew this bird from that distinctive noise.
The State Federation of Women's Clubs pushed for official recognition in the late 1920s. Mrs. Harry J. Shoemaker led the campaign. The legislature acted on June 22, 1931. Lawmakers made it the state game bird rather than just state bird. Pennsylvania's hunting tradition influenced this choice.
Grouse lived in every Pennsylvania county. The Allegheny Mountains hosted breeding populations. Young forests in the Pocono Plateau supported large numbers. Mixed hardwood and evergreen forests provided year-round habitat. These birds stay close to home, rarely moving more than a few hundred yards from where they hatched.
Legislative History
-
The 1931 Designation
Legislature passed the designation on June 22, 1931. The statute selected the Ruffed Grouse as Pennsylvania's official state game bird. That specific wording distinguished it from a standard state bird designation. Pennsylvania remains one of few states using the game bird classification. The law carries the citation 1931, June 22, P.L. 662. Title 71, Section 1005 of Pennsylvania Statutes codifies the designation today.
-
Women's Club Advocacy
State Federation of Women's Clubs organized the selection campaign. Mrs. Harry J. Shoemaker chaired the committee on birds and flowers. Club officers rallied support throughout Pennsylvania. Their advocacy mirrored similar efforts in other states during the 1920s. The General Federation of Women's Clubs promoted state bird designations nationwide. Pennsylvania women chose a bird tied to the state's food and hunting traditions.
-
Technical Classification
Some debate exists about Pennsylvania's official state bird status. Statute uses the term state game bird rather than state bird. That technical distinction appears in current Pennsylvania law. The Ruffed Grouse serves as de facto state bird in practice. Most Pennsylvanians recognize it in that role. Recent proposals have suggested adding a separate official state bird designation.
What This Bird Represents
Hunting Heritage
Grouse hunting shaped Pennsylvania outdoor culture. Families passed down hunting spots through generations. October mornings brought hunters into young forests with dogs. The explosive flush tested reflexes and shooting skills. Success required knowledge of habitat and bird behavior. Hunters respected the challenge grouse presented. That difficulty elevated the bird's status among game species.
Forest Management Connection
Healthy grouse populations indicate proper forest management. Young forests under 20 years old provide optimal habitat. Clear-cuts and timber harvests create the brushy conditions grouse need. Pennsylvania Game Commission tracks grouse as an indicator species. Declining numbers signal broader forest health problems. Managing for grouse benefits dozens of other wildlife species that depend on early successional forests.
Physical Characteristics
Size and Build
Adults measure 15.5 to 19 inches from head to tail. Weight ranges from one to 1.65 pounds. Males weigh slightly more than females. Wingspan stretches 22 to 25 inches across. The build appears chunky and compact. Short, triangular crest tops the head. Long, fan-shaped tail provides the most distinctive feature. Short legs support ground movement. The body size matches an American Crow.
Color Morphs
Two distinct color phases occur across the range. Gray morphs show gray-brown head, neck, and back coloration. Reddish-brown morphs display uniform brown plumage. Both types feature intricate patterns of dark bars and spots. The tail provides the clearest distinction between morphs. Gray-phase birds have brownish-gray tails while red-phase birds sport chestnut-colored tails. Northern populations lean toward gray morphs. Southern birds trend reddish-brown. Pennsylvania hosts both color types.
Distinctive Markings
All adults carry a prominent wide black band near the tail tip. Two narrower grayish bands bracket the black marking. Plumage combines buff, brown, black, and mottled gray in complex patterns. White or buff underparts show horizontal dark brown bars. The neck features iridescent black feathers forming a ruff. Males fan this ruff during courtship displays. Dark bars run down the neck sides and widen across the belly. Small heart-shaped white or buff spots dot the back feathers.
Sexual Differences
Males develop more prominent neck ruffs than females. Drummers weigh slightly more than hens. Female tails run shorter than male tails. The black tail band on hens appears grainy, fuzzy, or broken on center feathers. First-year males show this same broken pattern. Adult male tail bands stay uniform and continuous across all feathers. These differences help hunters identify birds in the field.
Behavior and Song
The Drumming Display
Males drum to attract females and warn rival males. The bird stands on a prominent log or rock with tail fanned. Wings beat rapidly forward and back without touching anything. Air rushes beneath the wings creating miniature sonic booms. The sound starts as slow, distinct thumps. Speed increases until individual beats merge into a fast whir. The drumming carries up to a quarter mile through forest. Peak drumming happens during March and April mating season. Some drumming continues year-round at lower frequency.
Courtship and Breeding
Males display by fanning tails and erecting neck ruffs to encircle their heads. They hiss and drag wingtips along the ground. Fighting between males determines breeding hierarchy. Grouse practice polygamy with males mating multiple females. Females handle all nesting and chick-rearing duties alone. Males leave immediately after mating. A hen selects a secluded ground site, usually at a tree base or under a fallen log.
Nesting and Reproduction
Females lay six to 16 white or buff eggs in a leaf-lined depression. The hen may re-nest if destruction occurs early. Incubation lasts about 24 days. Chicks hatch as precocial young capable of movement. The hen leads them away from the nest within 24 hours. Within one week, chicks manage low, buzzy flight. Three weeks brings strong flight capability. By autumn they look and act like adults. Young birds exhibit restless behavior called crazy flight during early fall.
Daily Activity Patterns
Grouse spend most time on the ground foraging. Mixed woodland with scattered clearings provides optimal habitat. They walk deliberately through leaf litter searching for food. Morning and late afternoon bring roadbed visits for gravel and clover. The explosive takeoff alerts everything within earshot. Top flight speed hits 20 to 35 mph. After rapid launch, birds lock wings and glide less than 100 yards. They can also fly nearly silent when needed.
Vocalizations
These birds remain relatively quiet most of the year. Hens produce hiss-like alarm calls. A pete-pete-peta-peta sound precedes flushing. Nasal squeals signal distress. Low, cooing hums gather the brood. Scolding calls quiet chicks. Males make various hissing, chirping, and peeping sounds. The drumming display produces the most recognizable sound.
Habitat and Range
Pennsylvania Distribution
Grouse occupy suitable habitat throughout Pennsylvania. Northern counties support the highest densities. The Allegheny National Forest provides prime territory. Pocono Mountain forests host stable populations. State game lands offer managed habitat. Young forests less than 20 years old attract the most birds. Mixed deciduous and coniferous stands work best. Brushy conditions combined with scattered clearings create ideal situations. Adults rarely range more than a few hundred yards daily unless pressured.
Forest Age Requirements
Young regenerating forests provide multiple benefits. Stands under 20 years old offer abundant food across all seasons. Dense understory protects from predators. Thick cover shields birds during severe weather. Aspen regeneration following clear-cuts creates perfect habitat. Alder lowlands and gray dogwood patches attract grouse during summer and fall. Conifer thickets provide winter roosting sites. Mature forests hold fewer birds due to reduced understory.
Seasonal Habitat Use
Winter brings major behavior shifts. Deep snow allows burrow roosting for warmth. Birds need at least 10 inches of soft snow for burrowing. Without adequate snow, they use conifer thickets for insulation. Winter diet switches to catkins, twigs, and buds. Aspen buds provide primary nutrition. Spring disperses birds across breeding territories. Summer focuses on areas with insect abundance for chicks. Fall brings acorn feeding when available.
North American Range
The species spans forests from Alaska across Canada to the Appalachian Mountains. Range extends south to northern Georgia. Western populations reach the Rocky Mountains through Wyoming and Utah. Birds occupy suitable habitat throughout the northern United States. They remain non-migratory across this entire range. Pennsylvania sits in the heart of Appalachian grouse country. Regional populations show natural 10-year cycles of abundance and scarcity.
Interesting Facts
Fact 1 of 8
Ruffed Grouse can digest plants so bitter or toxic that other bird species cannot consume even small amounts of the same vegetation.
Ruffed Grouse Songs & Calls
Hear the clear whistles and sharp calls of the Ruffed Grouse. These field recordings capture their distinctive voice in natural habitat.
Audio licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Sources & References
This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability. All information has been fact-checked and verified against official government records and scientific databases.
Official state information on physical characteristics, habitat requirements, population status, and management efforts • Accessed: November 30, 2025
Comprehensive species guide covering identification, behavior, drumming displays, and range information • Accessed: November 30, 2025
Original 1931 legislative act designating the Ruffed Grouse as Pennsylvania's state game bird • Accessed: November 30, 2025
Habitat management practices, conservation challenges, and ecological role of grouse in Pennsylvania forests • Accessed: November 30, 2025
Historical documentation of 1931 adoption including Mrs. Harry J. Shoemaker's role and Women's Clubs advocacy • Accessed: November 30, 2025
Accuracy Commitment: We strive to maintain accurate and up-to-date information. If you notice any errors or outdated information, please contact us.