Greater Prairie-chicken

(Tympanuchus cupido)

Conservation Status
IUCN Red List

NT - Near Threatened

NatureServe

N4 - Apparently Secure

S3 - Vulnerable

Minnesota

Special Concern

Species in Greatest Conservation Need

 
Greater Prairie-chicken
Photo by Tony Morris
No changes made
Some rights reserved
 
Description

 

 

Size

17 to 18 in length
28 wingspan

 

Voice

 

Similar Species

 
Habitat

Tallgrass prairie intermixed with cropland

Ecology

Migration

 

 

Nesting

 

 

Food

Mostly leaves, seeds, and cultivated grains, but also buds, berries, and insects in summer.

Distribution

Occurrence

Common year-round resident of seven northwestern Minnesota counties

 

Maps

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

Taxonomy
Class Aves (birds)

Order

Galliformes (landfowl)

Family

Phasianidae (pheasants, grouse, and allies)
Subfamily Tetraoninae (grouse)

Genus

Tympanuchus (prairie-chickens and sharp-tailed grouse)
   

Subordinate Taxa

Greater Prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus)

Heath Hen (Tympanuchus cupido cupido) (extinct)

Attwater’s Prairie Hen (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri)

   

Synonyms

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visitor Photos
 

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Dan W. Andree

Prairie Chicken in flight...

This Prairie Chicken took flight and I got this photo of it as it flew off.  Almost looks like ears laid back (pinnated feathers)

 

Greater Prairie-chicken

MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
   

 

   

 

Other Photos

flickr

Greater Prairie Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido)
Kitzmiller Ranch, Wray, Colorado

Photo by Ron Knight
No changes made
Some rights reserved

  Greater Prairie-chicken
     

036017-IMG_6085 Greater Prairie Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido)

Photo by Tony Morris
No changes made
Some rights reserved

  Greater Prairie-chicken

 

Camera

 

Slideshows

Greater Prairie Chicken
Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

Greater Prairie Chicken

Greater Prairie-Chicken
Cory Gregory

Greater Prairie-Chicken

 

slideshow

Visitor Videos
 

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Dan W. Andree

"Prairie Chicken, Nature Music Video" Dan W. Andree
Apr 14, 2024

About

I spent some time in prairie chicken blinds some time back observing and try capture them in video. The video shows prairie chicken behavior early spring prairie conditions on the prairie. Some males booming trying to get the females attention etc. Relaxing instrumental music added. Hope you enjoy it.

Other Videos

Prairie Chicken
moconservation

About

Uploaded on Aug 17, 2007

http://mdc.mo.gov

Beginning in March, prairie chickens in Missouri gather to perform an age-old mating ritual. Its held during the early morning and evening hours on a high, open area called a booming ground. Each male attempts to attract a female while defending their territory from other males. The male produces the unusual "booming" call as he sucks air into bright orange air sacs found on both sides of his neck. The booming draws-in females. They watch as males charge each other, jump into the air, fight, stamp their feet, and display their colorful air sacs. Females presumably choose the most impressive males.

Meet the King......The Prairie King.
James Brion

About

Uploaded on Jan 7, 2010

See the rare mating rituals of the Greater Prairie Chicken. Rarely seen footage. Filmed at Gobble n Grunt Outfitters/Prairie King Wingshooting. This is a must see.

Prairie Chickens in the Fort Pierre Grasslands
South Dakota

About

Uploaded on Apr 17, 2008

This is Praire Chickens during the spring mating season at the Fort Pierre National Grasslands in South Dakota.

Greater Prairie Chickens on Booming Grounds in Central Wisconsin
Davy Russell

About

Published on Apr 22, 2013

Filmed from a blind near Wisconsin Rapids, WI during the annual Greater Prairie Chicken Festival - April 14, 2013.

 

Camcorder

Visitor Sightings
 

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Dan W. Andree
1/12/2022

Location: rural Norman Co. Mn.

This Prairie Chicken took flight and I got this photo of it as it flew off.  Almost looks like ears laid back (pinnated feathers)

Greater Prairie-chicken
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings

 

 

Binoculars

 

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