Misleading vernacular names abound, however, and it is often called partridge (sometimes rendered pa'tridge, or shortened to pat),[7] pheasant, or prairie chicken, all of which are properly applied to other birds.

In the grey morph, the head, neck, and back are grey-brown; the breast is light with barring.

The tail is essentially the same brownish grey, with regular barring and a broad black band near the end ("subterminal").

There are all sorts of intergrades between the most typical morphs; warmer and more humid conditions favor browner birds in general.

[citation needed] Like most grouse, they spend most of their time on the ground; mixed woodland rich in aspen seems to be particularly well-liked.

[14]Hunting of the ruffed grouse is common in the northern and far western United States as well as Canada, often with shotguns.

This is because the grouse spends most of its time in thick brush, aspen stands, and second growth pines.

Hunting of the ruffed grouse requires a good ear and lots of stamina as one will be constantly walking and listening for them in the leaves.

[15]Ruffed grouse frequently seek gravel and clover along road beds during early morning and late afternoon.

Birds will return to these spots during the late afternoon to bathe in dust and socialize and mate.

The ruffed grouse spends most of its time quietly on the ground, and when surprised, may explode into flight, beating its wings very loudly.

[18][19][20][21][22][23][24] In spite of this historical cycle, populations have been declining in Pennsylvania and management plans adopted.

[25][26] Habitat loss has been a concern for the species,[27][28][29] but the introduction of the West Nile virus has been seen to be further increasing mortality.