- Tympanuchus pallidicinctus
Identification
41cm (16"), wingspan: 63cm (25"), weight: 750gm (1.6lb). A typical grouse with rounded body, heavily barred in dark brown and white, tail darker than rest of upperside. Belly is lighter, and underside of wings almost all white. Male has a prominent orange eye-comb, and can show a large orange-red neck patch in breeding displays.
Similar Species
- Greater Prairie Chicken is essentially identical in appearance, but averages slightly larger and darker. Most importantly for identification, it does not share range.
- Sharp-tailed Grouse is more spotted than barred, has a long pointed tail instead of rounded, and occupies a disjoint range to the north.
Distribution
Western Kansas, eastern Colorado, western Oklahoma, north-western Texas, and eastern New Mexico. This species is considered vulnerable by Birdlife due to population decline.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Arid Prairies, Mescalino sands
Behaviour
Forages among the sparse plants of its habitat for food. Prefers walking, but will take wing in a noisy burst, then a long glide, when threatened.
Diet
Includes insects, seeds, and leaves, catkins, and buds of forbs (broad-leaved plants) and cultivated crops.
Breeding
Males display tirelessy at leks, fighting for dominance and position with other males to compete for females. Females scratch shallow, bowl-shaped depressions in the soil and line them with dried grasses, leaves, and feathers to serve as nests.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- wildlifehc.org
- Birdlife international species factsheet.
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Lesser Prairie Chicken. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Lesser_Prairie_Chicken
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
