Ruffed Grouse feeding in old Saskatchewan Orchard

What luck! I saw Ruffed Grouse — my first — several times when I was at the writing retreat at St. Peter's Abbey in Muenster, Saskatchewan, in February. There were at least two, feeding in an old orchard. Or, perhaps there were three, as I saw a pair a few times, and then one on its own. Or more...

Ruffed Grouse climbing in the old orchard.  © SB

I was somewhat surprised to see this one up a tree — even though I'd been told they are roosting birds, it's startling to see a bird as big as a chicken climb along high branches. Most of the time, they were running through the undergrowth, or pecking at fallen, frozen fruit with the other birds. (And yes, I'm sure chickens can climb trees, too, but seeing one above my head would surprise me, too.) 

This is more typical of the ones I saw -
playing hide-and-seek in the undergrowth.  © SB

Ruffed Grouse, at right, under the crab apple tree.
There is also a pair of Pine Grosbeaks here - the female on the ground,
the male in the branches at the far left.  © SB  

What are these? Ruffed Grouse — Gélinotte huppée.

Location: Muenster, Saskatchewan
Photo dates: February 19, 2016. 

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