Grouse Facts
Grouse Facts
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Interesting Grouse Facts: |
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Grouse can reach 12 to 37 inches in length and 0.66 to 14.33 pounds of weight, depending on the species. Males are larger than females. |
Grouse has flecked plumage. Feathers can be reddish, brown, grey or mahogany colored and covered with various spots and bars. |
Grouse has stocky body and short legs. Some species have crest on the head, fan-shaped tail and large neck feathers. |
Nostrils, legs and toes are feathered. Dense plumage keeps the body temperature stable and facilitates movement across the snow (feathers on toes act like snowshoes). |
Grouse is ground-dwelling bird (it is adapted to the life on the ground), but it can fly short distances and perform twists and turns in the air. |
Grouse is an omnivore (it eats plants and meat). Young birds eat insects and rodents, while adults eat flowers, buds, shoots, seeds, berries, fruits and grass. |
During the winter, grouse hides in the 10 inches deep snow which provides insulation from the low temperatures. |
Main predators of grouse are foxes, bobcat, coyotes and birds of prey. |
Grouse are territorial animals. Male occupies territory of 6 to 10 acres that overlaps with territories of two nearby females. |
Grouse are solitary birds. They occasionally gather in groups during the winter to feed on available food sources. |
Mating season of grouse usually takes place during the spring. |
Males of some species of grouse erect their neck feathers, expand their tails and use their wings to produce drum-like sound when they want to attract females. |
After short copulation, female flies up to ½ miles away to build nest in the ground. Nest is cup-shaped, 6 inches wide, 3 inches deep and lined with vegetation. Female lays 8 to 14 eggs within a period of 2 weeks. Incubation period lasts 24 to 26 days. |
Young birds are precocial, which mean that they are ready for the independent life almost immediately after birth. They are able to fly 5 days after birth and travel distance of 4 miles at the age of 10 days. Grouse reaches sexual maturity at the age of one year. |
Grouse are able to survive up to 10 years, but they rarely live more than 1 year in the wild due to predation and diseases. |
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