Identification - The breeding male is the size of a plump crow, with a rust-brown body, white belly, legs, and wings and a black tail. Note the red eyebrows.
Morsels - All members of the grouse family grow "snowshoes" in the winter. Some, like the ptarmigan, have feathered toes, while others, like the Ruffed Grouse, have short, comb-like projections on either side of their toes. Both serve to distribute the bird's weight over a greater surface area, and allow them to walk more easily on the surface of the snow.
