Tympanuchus cupido
The Greater Prairie Chicken, *Tympanuchus cupido*, is a medium-sized grouse, an iconic symbol of North America's tallgrass prairies. Males typically measure 41-47 cm (16-18.5 in) in length and females 39-44 cm (15.5-17.5 in), with a wingspan of 70-75 cm (27.5-29.5 in) and weighing between 700-1300g (1.5-2.9 lbs). Their plumage is a cryptic, finely barred pattern of dark brown and buff, providing excellent camouflage in tall grasses, with a paler, buffy throat and white underparts. Distinctive...
Found primarily in expanses of tallgrass prairie, native grasslands, and sometimes hayfields or pastures adjacent to prairies. They prefer open habitats with sufficient grass height for nesting and cover, avoiding dense forests or heavily cultivated fields.
Their diet is primarily herbivorous, consisting of seeds, leaves, buds, and grains, supplemented by insects during the warmer months, particularly for growing chicks. They forage by pecking items directly from the ground or vegetation.
Greater Prairie Chickens are diurnal, with their most intense activity periods occurring around dawn and dusk, especially during the breeding season. During winter, they form coveys and roost communally in dense grass or brush to conserve warmth. Foraging occurs on the ground, where they glean se...
Historically, the Greater Prairie Chicken was abundant across a vast expanse of North America's central grasslands, from Alberta and Manitoba south to Texas and Louisiana, and east to Ohio and Kentucky. Today, their range is severely fragmented and drastically reduced, primarily confined to isola...
Vulnerable
- The iconic 'booming' call of the male Greater Prairie Chicken can be heard for up to two miles on a still morning. - Their elaborate courtship display, known as 'lekking,' involves inflating bright orange air sacs on their necks, raising long feather tufts (pinnae), and stamping their feet in a...