Greater Prairie Chicken
Tympanuchus cupido
The Greater Prairie Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) is a rare partridges, pheasants, grouse, and alli found in 2 countries, weighing about 870 g. The greater prairie-chicken or pinnated grouse, sometimes called a boomer, is a large bird in the grouse tribe.
About the Greater Prairie Chicken
The greater prairie-chicken or pinnated grouse, sometimes called a boomer, is a large bird in the grouse tribe. This North American species was once abundant but has become extremely rare or extirpated over much of its range due to habitat loss, natural disasters, and overhunting. Conservation measures are underway to ensure the sustainability of existing small populations. One of the most famous aspects of these creatures is the mating ritual called booming.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Adults of both sexes are medium to large chicken-like birds, stocky with round wings. They have short tails which are typically rounded. Adult males have orange comb-like feathers over their eyes and dark, elongated head feathers that can be raised or lain along neck. They also possess a circular, un-feathered neck patch which can be inflated while displaying; this, like their comb feathers, is also orange. As with many other bird species, the adult females have shorter head feathers and also lack the male's yellow comb and orange neck patch.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Canada.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, December, with peak activity in April. It is a passage migrant species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Greater Prairie Chicken?
- Adults of both sexes are medium to large chicken-like birds, stocky with round wings. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Greater Prairie Chicken?
- The Greater Prairie Chicken is a large sized bird weighing about 870 g.
- Where can you see a Greater Prairie Chicken?
- The Greater Prairie Chicken occurs in 2 countries, including the United States.
- What birds look similar to a Greater Prairie Chicken?
- The Greater Prairie Chicken is most easily confused with the Lesser Prairie Chicken and the Sharp-tailed Grouse.
- Is the Greater Prairie Chicken endangered?
- The Greater Prairie Chicken is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Greater Prairie Chicken for real
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