“French hen”

This is one of three ruffed grouse that were meandering yesterday morning around our yard. It is the first time I have seen a ruffed grouse in our yard, so I added it to my list of birds seen there. It is Number 32.

Grouse were introduced here in Newfoundland sixty or seventy years. So they never had much time to develop a widespread local name. But yesterday, after I took this picture, I found out they are sometimes called French hens. Just why, I don't know.

I also heard that their cousin, the spruce grouse, is called the Fool's hen. I don't know why about that either.