greater prairie chicken

1. Bird Name
The Greater Prairie Chicken, scientifically known as Tympanuchus cupido.

2. Appearance
Greater Prairie Chickens boast a distinct presentation of brown, white, and black feathers arranged in a beautiful barred pattern across their bodies. They are most recognized for their colorful, unfeathered neck patches that show orange in males and bright yellow in females. Their beaks are short and stout, designed for pecking at seeds and insects. Notably, male prairie chickens have large, rounded, dark feathers or “pinnae” on the sides of their necks, which can be erected during their compelling courtship displays.

3. Size
On average, these birds measure about 43cm (17 inches) in length. The wingspan ranges from 28 to 36 inches, offering a striking sight when in flight. Depending on gender and age, the Greater Prairie Chicken can weigh anywhere between 1.5 to 2.2lbs.

4. Habitat & Distribution
The Greater Prairie Chicken was originally found across much of central and eastern North America. However, due to habitat loss, today, its areas of residence are now highly fragmented, extending to parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas in the United States. They prefer to live in tallgrass prairies and mixed-grass prairies, with abundant growth of big bluestem, Indian grass, switchgrass, and cordgrass, offering cover for protection against predators.

5. Interesting Facts
One unique behaviour of the Greater Prairie Chicken is their elaborate courtship rituals or “booming” displays. Males gather in open areas, known as leks, where they stomp their feet quickly, inflate their orange air sacs, erect their pinnae, and emit a booming sound to attract females. Secondly, despite being a chicken species, these birds are potent flyers and can reach considerable heights and speeds when needed. Culturally, the Greater Prairie Chicken is a symbol of healthy prairies and is celebrated in events like Kansas’ annual Prairie Chicken Festival.

6. Diet
Like other prairie-dwelling birds, the Greater Prairie Chicken survives primarily on a diet of seeds and grains. They also consume various insects and green plants, particularly in the summer, which contribute to the vital proteins needed for chick development.

7. Behavior & Sounds
Other than “booming,” these chickens display a fascinating behavior during interspecies encounters, in which the males will fight to defend their territory, jumping at each other with feet extended. Their calls include the aforementioned “booming” sound during courtship, as well as a high-pitched, mournful cry emitted when they are alarmed.

8. Conservation Status
Sadly, the Greater Prairie Chicken is near threatened, according to the IUCN Red List as of 2017. The leading threats to this species are habitat fragmentation and destruction due to industrial development, agriculture, and wind turbines.

9. Lifespan
These birds typically live a span of 2-3 years in the wild. However, with proper care in captivity, they may reach up to 10-15 years.

10. Additional Notes
Local names in other languages for the Greater Prairie Chicken include “Tétras des prairies” in French and “Gallina de las praderas mayor” in Spanish. Humans’ relationship with the Greater Prairie Chicken is long-standing – Native Americans used their feathers in rituals and wore their plumage during tribal dances. Notably, these birds play an essential role in the ecosystem by spreading seeds and regulating the insect population in their prairie habitat.