- Tympanuchus cupido
Identification
41–47 cm
The entire body is covered in bars.
Distribution
Mainly seen in Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Missouri, with smaller populations in Colorado, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Oklahoma, Iowa, and Texas.
Photo © by Greg Lavaty
Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR, Texas, USA, July 2009
Taxonomy
The species itself belongs to the Genus Tympanuchus, but placed in Tetraonidae by some authorities[1].
Subspecies
There are 3 subspecies[1]:
- T. c. pinnatus:
- T. c. cupido: (Heath Hen)
- Formerly north-eastern US; extirpated ca 1932
- T. c. attwateri: (Attwater's)
- Coastal south-eastern Texas
Status
Vulnerable, largely due to loss of habitat and competition with invasive Ring-necked Pheasant. Hunting (both historical and modern) also play a role. Current range highly fragmented, once occurred over much of North America. The Attwater's subspecies critically endangered.
Habitat
Photo © by Greg Lavaty
Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR, Texas, USA, July 2009
Seen in expansive tall-grass prairies.
Behaviour
Often seen in flocks of over 15. This species is famous for the male's displays on the lek.
Diet
Their main diet consists of grains. In the spring and summer they will eat insects. In some areas acorns form an important part of their diet.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved August 2014)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Greater Prairie Chicken. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 2 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Greater_Prairie_Chicken
