Identifying male vs female ruffed grouse

[ryangrouse]

Just wondering what everyone thinks about using the tailband on ruffed grouse to determine the sex of the bird. The usual rule is a solid band, male, broken band, female. Have done lots of ruffed grouse research and just completed a study project for college. Research and project have solidified that the band idea doesn't always hold up true. Have had males with broken band and female with solid bands.

Other ways of determining the sex involve measuring the length of the middle tail feathers with males usually being 6 inches or longer. Also pulling a rump feather at the base of the tail and looking for white dots, one dot, female, two dots, male. Have also seen claims of color of eye patch above eye, if its bluish, female, orangish, male.

Just courious to see what anyone thinks about this or if they have any other ways of determing the sex of birds.

[Phil from Maine]

Short feathers on the breast and a dark group of feathers around the upper part of the neck. Males ruff up the dark feathers and drum it's wings on its breast to attract females. As well as fan it's tail out to show off to the females, the solid lines om the tail verses broken lines I believe is wether the grouse is mature or not.

[lethalconnection]

Generally, the central tail feather of a male ruffed grouse is six inches or longer. Central tail feathers from a female are shorter than six inches.
The appearance of the band on the central tail feather can also indicate sex, but this method is not always reliable. A distinct black band indicates a male, but males do not always have a complete band. The band on a female is generally not complete.

[sproulman]

ORIGINAL: lethalconnection

Generally, the central tail feather of a male ruffed grouse is six inches or longer. Central tail feathers from a female are shorter than six inches.
The appearance of the band on the central tail feather can also indicate sex, but this method is not always reliable. A distinct black band indicates a male, but males do not always have a complete band. The band on a female is generally not complete.

i never knew that info,thanks guys,great stuff..