Ruffed Grouse feed on birch catkins at dusk [January; near Floodwood, St Louis County, Minnesota]
A reddish Ruffed Grouse carefully makes its way out a birch branch to feed on buds [January; Blueberry Hills, Deer River, Minnesota]
Ruffed Grouse [October; Lima Mountain Road, Superior National Forest, Cook County, Minnesota]
Ruffed Grouse survive the cold winters in the north by diving into deep powder snow and burrowing at night. Under two feet of powder it may be 25 degrees...Possibly 60 degrees warmer than the air temperature! [December; Duluth, Minnesota]