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Monarch caterpillar

Mass Audubon State of the Birds

Find a Bird

Ruffed Grouse
Bonasa umbellus

The Ruffed Grouse seems to be shifting its distribution westward to the more heavily forested parts of the state. A drop in winter numbers warns of a possible decline. It is fairly widespread as a breeder in Massachusetts.
Conservation Status
Continued Action/Monitoring Needed

Tracking This Bird In Massachusetts

Climate Vulnerability Score

Highly Vulnerable
Mass Audubon Mean likelihood of occurrence (current)
0.50
Mass Audubon Mean likelihood of occurrence (2050)
0.06
Mass Audubon Absolute change in likelihood of occurrence
-0.45
U.S. Forest Service Climate Change Bird Atlas (Hadly Hi emissions scenario)a
-1.00
National Audubon Societyb
Climate Endangered
a USFS model data for Massachusetts by 2100
b National Audubon Society's Climate Change Atlas was completed on a continental scale.

Breeding Bird Atlas

Atlas I Blocks
419
Atlas II Blocks
418
Percent of state occupied - Atlas I
43
Percent of state occupied - Atlas II
40
Percent change
82

Breeding Bird Survey

Annual trend 1966-2010
-3.4%
P-value
not significant
Number of routes
15
Recent trend 2000-2010
-3.5%

Christmas Bird Count

Trend (1963-2008)
-5.3
Significantly different than zero
yes
Trend (1963-1979)
-4.5
Significantly different than zero
yes
Trend (1979-2008)
-8.5
Significantly different than zero
yes
Christmas Bird Count Sightings By Year
Data reflects sightings per person per hour in order to account for varying numbers of yearly volunteers.

Habitat Usage

Breeding

Forest, Shrubland

Wintering

Forest, Shrubland

Climate Suitability Current and 2050