Tympanuchus phasianellus
The Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) is a captivating medium-sized game bird renowned for its elaborate communal courtship displays. Males typically measure 40-48 cm (16-19 inches) in length and weigh 700-900 g (1.5-2 lbs), with females slightly smaller. Their plumage is a cryptic blend of streaky brown, buff, and white, providing excellent camouflage in their grassland and shrubland habitats. Distinctive field marks include a relatively small head, a pointed tail (which gives t...
Found primarily in grasslands, prairies, open shrublands, and savanna ecosystems, often at the interface of forests and open country. They prefer areas with a mosaic of dense cover and open foraging grounds, typically at low to moderate elevations.
Primarily herbivorous, consuming a wide variety of buds, leaves, shoots, berries, seeds, and grains. Insects, particularly grasshoppers and beetles, form a crucial part of the diet for chicks and are also eaten by adults, especially during summer months.
Sharp-tailed Grouse are diurnal birds, most active during the early morning and late afternoon, often roosting in dense vegetation or burrowing into snowdrifts for warmth in winter. Their foraging strategy involves walking and pecking at the ground to consume vegetation and insects. During the br...
The Sharp-tailed Grouse boasts a wide distribution across North America, extending from Alaska and the Canadian boreal forests south through the Great Plains of Canada and the United States. Its breeding range encompasses much of central and western Canada, including British Columbia, Alberta, Sa...
Least Concern
- The Sharp-tailed Grouse gets its name from its distinctive, pointed tail feathers, which are prominently displayed during courtship dances. - Males perform an elaborate "dance" on communal display grounds called leks, stomping their feet rapidly up to 20 times per second. - During their lek dis...