Sharp-tailed Grouse
Tympanuchus phasianellus
The Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) is a uncommon partridges, pheasants, grouse, and alli found in 2 countries, weighing about 882 g. The sharp-tailed grouse, also known as the sharptail or fire grouse, is a medium-sized prairie grouse.
About the Sharp-tailed Grouse
The sharp-tailed grouse, also known as the sharptail or fire grouse, is a medium-sized prairie grouse. One of three species in the genus Tympanuchus, the sharp-tailed grouse is found throughout Alaska, much of Northern and Western Canada, and parts of the Western and Midwestern United States. The sharp-tailed grouse is the provincial bird of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Adults have a relatively short tail with the two central (deck) feathers being square-tipped and somewhat longer than their lighter, outer tail feathers giving the bird its distinctive name. The plumage is mottled dark and light browns against a white background, they are lighter on the underparts with a white belly uniformly covered in faint V-shaped markings. These markings distinguish sharp-tailed grouse from lesser and greater prairie chickens which are heavily barred on their underparts. Adult males have a yellow comb over their eyes and a violet display patch on their neck.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in April. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Sharp-tailed Grouse?
- Adults have a relatively short tail with the two central (deck) feathers being square-tipped and somewhat longer than their lighter, outer tail feathers giving the bird its distinctive name. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Sharp-tailed Grouse?
- The Sharp-tailed Grouse is a large sized bird weighing about 882 g.
- Where can you see a Sharp-tailed Grouse?
- The Sharp-tailed Grouse occurs in 2 countries, including the United States and Canada.
- What birds look similar to a Sharp-tailed Grouse?
- The Sharp-tailed Grouse is most easily confused with the Greater Prairie Chicken and the Lesser Prairie Chicken.
- Is the Sharp-tailed Grouse endangered?
- The Sharp-tailed Grouse is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Sharp-tailed Grouse for real
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