The sound of a male ruffed grouse drumming may be subtle, but the accompanying display is flamboyant. The low pitched drum alerts females in the vicinity to the presence of a male, and if her interest is piqued, she may approach the log to watch him strut his stuff. I’ve been wanting to get a decent quality video of it, and finally this year I got it with a trail camera that has a close focus lens. Enjoy this video montage of the best clips from a 5 day period. The earlier clips give you a better visual, but the one at the very end provides a better audio because he is closer to the camera (too close for a good visual). Turn the volume way up to hear it.

I’m leaving the camera in place for a few more weeks to see if an interested female or competing male shows up, for it would be interesting the see the ensuing action in either case. I’ve read that fighting with another cock or mating with a hen sometimes occurs right at the log, but in the last two springs of camera trapping at a drumming log, I’ve yet to see more than one grouse at a time.

See my last year’s post, Little Drummer Bird, for still photos taken with a DSLR homemade camera trap, information on how to find a drumming stage, and tips on camera trapping this species. Also, chapter 33 of my book, Camera Trapping Guide, covers the ruffed grouse in detail.