Author Topic: What's that bird? (Read 1664 times)

PeterF. · « **on:** April 02, 2004, 05:45:16 AM »

Folks: Looking for help identifying a bird I see on the edge of my field. About the size of a medium-sized chicken, plump roundish body, slim neck, smallish head with no obvious things sticking up or hanging down, very dark-brown or black all over. Medium-length tail that, when flying, is spread pretty straight-across. When rousted, flies straight and level into deeper woods, with "thundering" wing-beats; never hear any vocalizations. Very skittish; I never get closer than 50 feet before it picks me up & hightails off. Have at least 2 in residence now. Location is central coastal Maine, on edge of fields next to deep woods. Got any ideas? By the way, on a different subject, we've got LOTS of wild turkeys around here; my "resident" flock currently = 22.

Selmer · « **Reply #1 on:** April 02, 2004, 05:07:18 PM »

Just a guess here: ruffed grouse?

lhonda · « **Reply #2 on:** April 11, 2004, 08:26:28 AM »

Partridge, AKA ruffed grouse, sounds like. One of the best eating birds in the world, as far as many are concerned, myself included. They're easy to kill, if you can get a shot off. ;c) Size 8 on up to 4s will do the job, with an IC choke. Wish they were here in MA in huntable numbers; I have to go north to chase them.

LNH

savageT · « **Reply #3 on:** April 11, 2004, 12:54:13 PM »

Peter,
You describe a bird that I remember vividly here in central NY back in the 50's. As kids we played on a large grass covered hillside that was boarded w/ woods. Just as you've described, they were about the size of a chicken, dark brown with no bright coloring. But when they took-off it 'bout scared the bejeepers out of ya with their thundering wings! Right or wrong, we called them partridge. Haven't seen one since those days long ago....definately NOT ruffed grouse....much larger birds.

Jim

Selmer · « **Reply #4 on:** April 26, 2004, 05:31:19 AM »

I've never seen partridge called ruffed grouse, and I figured the ruffed grouse was too large. As far north and you are in Maine, could it be a ptarmigan? That statement may ahve made me sound like an idiot, I don't know if ptarmigan even live in Maine! The only partridge I know of are Hungarian partridge, and they generally like the same cover as our sharptails and prairie chickens.
Selmer

dakotashooter2 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 28, 2004, 06:26:19 AM »

I read this earlier and thought I responded but as I read it again I have another thought. I initially didn't realize where you were from but now I wonder if it might be a spruce grouse. They are slightly larger than ruffs and darker in coloration. Maps show their range to include the mid to southern 1/2 of coastal maine. Do a search under spruce grouse on the net and you should find a picture.

Lawdog · « **Reply #6 on:** August 27, 2004, 12:02:13 PM »

I agree with 'dakotashooter2' about it sounding like a "Spruce Grouse" or "Fools Hen". Lawdog

Don Fischer · « **Reply #7 on:** February 12, 2005, 08:08:00 AM »

Sound's like it could be a grouse, Great eating bird, my favorite. But it could be a woodcock maybe. You said a roundish body with a short tail and brownist to black. Most grouse, if I remember correctly, are greyish and not roundish but sort of oval. We don't have a lot of grouse around here and I do miss them!

crawfish · « **Reply #8 on:** February 19, 2005, 01:58:13 PM »

I can attest to the good eating a grouse makes. The first time I ever had grouse was in 1993 when I was on a visit to my brother who lived in Oakridge, OR. We shot one while on a deer hunt. My brother cooked it in butter with some Shaggy Mane mushrooms that we also found that day growing along a logging road in the Willamette Forest. That was sure a good trail lunch. Id eat grouse again anytime.