Grouse are a group of birds from the order Galliformes, in the family Phasianidae. Grouse are presently assigned to the tribe Tetraonini, a classification supported by mitochondrial DNA sequence studies, and applied by the American Ornithologists' Union, ITIS, International Ornithological Congress, and others.
Grouse
A ruffed grouse found at the Kortright Centre for Conservation.
A ruffed grouse in Canada.
Image: Koklass Pheasant Manila 3
Galliformes is an order of heavy-bodied ground-feeding birds that includes turkeys, chickens, quail, and other landfowl. Gallinaceous birds, as they are called, are important in their ecosystems as seed dispersers and predators, and are often reared by humans for their meat and eggs, or hunted as game birds.
Galliformes
Despite its distinct appearance, the wild turkey is actually a very close relative of pheasants
Palaeortyx skeleton, Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, Paris
Female (left) and male common pheasants: Sexual dimorphism is conspicuous in this species, one of the most apomorphic gamefowl