Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) is in the Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies family (Phasianidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 9,071 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Ruffed Grouse: observations by month (U.S.)
About Ruffed Grouse
The ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) is a medium-sized grouse occurring in forests from the Appalachian Mountains across Canada to Alaska. It is non-migratory. It is the only species in the genus Bonasa.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Ruffed Grouse by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 1,899 | February | Jan–Dec |
| Vermont | 1,029 | April | Sep–Jul |
| Michigan | 722 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Wyoming | 567 | September | May–Oct |
| New York | 554 | April | Mar–Jan |
| Washington | 549 | October | Mar–Nov |
| Maine | 537 | June | Apr–Oct |
| Oregon | 498 | September | Apr–Oct |
| Montana | 375 | October | Apr–Nov |
| Idaho | 371 | September | Apr–Oct |
| Wisconsin | 308 | June | May–Apr |
| New Hampshire | 265 | June | Dec–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 199 | June | Mar–Aug |
| Utah | 194 | September | Mar–Nov |
| North Carolina | 173 | May | Feb–Jun |
| California | 152 | April | Apr–Aug |
| Alaska | 150 | September | May–Oct |
| Massachusetts | 129 | April | Jan–Nov |
| West Virginia | 118 | June | Feb–Jul |
| Virginia | 110 | March | Mar–Oct |
| Tennessee | 61 | June | Apr–Jun |
| Maryland | 31 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Ohio | 14 | May | Apr–May |
| South Dakota | 14 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Georgia | 12 | April | Apr–May |
| Kentucky | 11 | April | Apr–May |
| Nevada | 8 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Connecticut | 7 | April | Apr–Apr |
| New Jersey | 7 | June | Apr–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
Wild Turkey
Indian Peafowl
Ring-necked Pheasant
Dusky Grouse
Sooty Grouse
Chukar
Greater Sage-Grouse
Spruce Grouse
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Ruffed Grouse?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from May to April.
Where is Ruffed Grouse most often seen?
The most observations come from Minnesota, Vermont, Michigan.