Whose foot is this? Notice the fringes on the edges of the toes.
A ruffed grouse’s foot with their winter snowshoes!
In the fall these pectinations (latin for comb-like structures) begin growing on the sides of grouse toes. Like a snowshoe, these fringes increase the surface area of the feet. With the bird’s weight more distributed, grouse are able to walk across the snow without sinking in as much. Pectinations are thought to help the grouse grip onto icy branches when feeding on their winter diet of buds and twigs as well.
Grouse also grow gaiters on their legs (feathers) and a balaclava for their face (nostril feathers that slightly warm the air they breathe). In the spring, grouse shed their winter adaptive “gear.”
Very interesting!❤️