Grouse

Last week I was going down the back steps when I startled a strange-looking bird. It was a bit larger than a dove, and it was rounder and had short wings. It landed in the yard and began strutting around with its tail feathers turned up and fanned out like a turkey. Later, I looked it up and discovered that I had seen a ruffed grouse -- which, like turkeys, chickens, quails, and pheasants, is a member of the Galliform order of birds. Chicago is at the very south edge of their range, but as they normally inhabit forest, I think it's interesting that one found its way to my neighborhood.