Greater Prairie-chicken

(Tympanuchus cupido)

Conservation Status
Greater Prairie-chicken
Photo by Dan W. Andree
  IUCN Red List

NT - Near Threatened

 
  NatureServe

N4 - Apparently Secure

S3 - Vulnerable

 
  Minnesota

Special Concern

Species in Greatest Conservation Need

 
           
 
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
 
 

 

 
           

 

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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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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