What is the State Bird of Pennsylvania? (And Why?)

Pennsylvania was one of the thirteen founding states, officially known as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It’s only the 33rd largest state by area, but it’s still the fifth most populous state in the country. Pennsylvania’s state animal is the white-tailed deer, but what is the state bird?

Pennsylvania chose the ruffled grouse (Bonasa umbellus) as its state bird in 1931. This medium-sized, gray and brown patterned bird is also known as a partridge, but they are not the same as the gray partridge.

The state bird of Pennsylvania, the ruffed grouse.

Why is the Ruffed Grouse the state bird of Pennsylvania?

As of today, Pennsylvania has not adopted an official state bird, according to the E-Reference Desk. Instead, in 1931, it adopted the ruffled grouse as its state game bird. The bird lived in the state’s forests and provided an indispensable food supply to the state’s settlers. The bird was supported by officers from the State Federation of Women’s Clubs and its President of the Bird and Flower Association, Mrs. Harry J. Shoemaker.

When did the ruffled grouse become Pennsylvania’s state bird?

On June 22, 1931, Pennsylvania adopted the ruffed grouse as its state game bird. The state also adopted the state tree on the same day. Pennsylvania names its state gamebirds in Purdon’s provisions of Section 1005 of the Pennsylvania Statutes and Chapter 6 of Title 71 Part 1 of the Uniform Statutes that are similar or closely related to those of the Administrative Code – Secretary and Department of the Interior – State Emblem Section 1005.

Lotus leaf grouse with open wings

What does Pennsylvania’s state bird look like?

Ruffed Grouse measures approximately 14 inches long. This medium-sized chicken-like bird has a stocky body and rounded wings. Both sexes of this bird have a white breast with brown and black chevrons and stripes, and a gray or brown back, head, and neck. They have a black collar on the sides of their necks and a crest on top of their heads. These birds have a gray or brown oblong tail with thin, pale and black stripes and a broad black subterminal band.

ruffled grouse on the ground

How are these birds behaving?

The hearty grouse thrives in the harsh North American winters when other birds, including pheasants, quail and turkeys, die. Grouse range from late November to March in snowy areas covered by the ground.

Males of this species lead an aggressive, territorial life. They mate with a hen or two and, as adults, defend their woodland home of 6 to 10 acres.

Males scare away potential threats by standing on top of a log or boulder and flapping their wings — flapping the air with their wings to create a vacuum. He does this year-round but picks up the pace in the spring.

As summer begins, during May a female crested grouse will choose a bush in her mate’s breeding area (usually in the woods) to nest in. Favorite locations include next to felled trees or under low bushes. The female chooses a spot on the ground where the wind naturally deposits a pile of dry leaves. In this starter nest, the female ruffled grouse added herbs and more dried leaves. When she is satisfied with the nest, she will lay 5 to 12 eggs. These little yellow eggs must hatch, but unlike other birds, the female red-collared grouse does leave the nest when the eggs hatch. This makes them vulnerable and many predatory birds, including crows and crows, eat them as a delicacy. The mother bird will attack the birds, but if they come close while she is home. She will attack any intruder with her feet and wings like a hen.

As soon as the eggs hatch, the chicks can leave the nest with their parents. They followed their mother to practice flying. By a week old, they can fly a few yards at a time, but not enough solo, so they will accompany them in search of food. When sleeping at night, the mother bird covers her chicks with her wings for protection and warmth. If an enemy approaches while out foraging, the mother will feign injury to attract the predator so that the babies can survive.

Ruffled grouse in the snow, in winter

Do ruffled grouse form colonies?

The Ruffed Grouse spends their entire lives on the land, but will fly out of these areas in search of food. These attempts began in October as fall approached, when food supplies began to dwindle. These birds often fly over the Ohio and Susquehanna rivers in small flocks of 8 to 10 birds. Occasionally, more birds (up to 15) fly across the river to spend a week or two in the nearby woods. Usually during these small migrations, hunters shoot them. These birds often fly across state lines into Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois or Indiana.

Aside from egg-eating raptors, the worst enemy of these birds is humans. While hawks, opossums, polar cats, weasels, foxes, and raccoons all formed natural predator relationships with these birds, humans had hunted them long before settlers came to the country.

Ruffled grouse eating berries on a branch

What do ruffled grouse eat?

The flight across the river offers them the opportunity to continue to eat a varied diet. In warm weather, when there is no snow on the ground, birds feed on fruit, insects, and the green leaves of many plants and trees. The grouse does eat meat other than insects; it also eats the delicacy of frogs, salamanders, and snakes.

Once the snow falls, the ruffled grouse transforms into “flower eaters” to eat. This means it feeds on catkins and buds of dormant flowering trees such as hazel, ironwood, birch, cherry and aspen.