Folks who venture into Wyoming’s forests might have heard an odd thumping or drumming sound — prominent enough to thrum in the ears — and wondered what it is.

It turns out that big noise is made by a relatively small bird, the ruffed grouse.

During the springtime mating season, male ruffed grouse try to attract mates with their “drumming” prowess.

To pull off the feat, they don’t need sticks and a drum kit. All they need is air. So it could be said, the earnest little grouse takes air drumming to a new level.

The Cornell Lab All About Birds site breaks down how ruffed grouse pull it off.

“As the bird quickly rotates its wings forward and backward, air rushes in beneath the wings creating a miniature vacuum that generates a deep, thumping sound wave that carries up to a quarter of

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