5 years

Size — Adult greater prairie chickens measure 16 to 19 inches long and weigh 2 1/4 to 3 pounds; adult lessers, 15 to 17 inches and 1 1/2 to 2 pounds. Habitat — Greater prairie chickens are found in the tall-grass and mixed-grass prairies of the Midwest and the northern and central plains.

Prairie chickens are excellent eating as far as I am concerned. I like them better than pheasants. They are dark but not nearly as dark as a sharptail (which I like as well). I use two recipes when we are camped on the prairie.

Tympanuchus. Tympanuchus is a small genus of birds in the grouse family. They are commonly referred to as prairie chickens.

The most obvious plumage characteristic from which a hunter can tell the two species apart. Prairie chickens have horizontal barring across the breast and belly. This is the most obvious difference between the two prairie grouse. Sharp-tailed grouse have distinctive “chevron” shaped markings on the underside.

Range itself is a good way to identify the species, as Sharp-tailed Grouse are found in a much wider greographic area than are Prairie Chickens. In terms of visual appearance, Greater Prairie Chickens are indeed a bit larger than Lesser Prairie Chickens.

shortgrass prairies

Great horned owl. Andy Lawrence photo. Life is challenging on the prairie, and lesser prairie-chickens have a short life expectancy, with around 40 percent to 60 percent mortality each year. Many animals prey on lesser prairie-chicken adults, including coyotes, bobcats, hawks, owls, raccoons and foxes.

A little smaller and paler than the Greater Prairie-Chicken, this grouse is adapted to arid short-grass regions of the southern Great Plains. At one time it was abundant in this region, but it has declined seriously, and is now an uncommon bird found in a few local concentrations.

Calls. The low booming of displaying males is made by air passing through the syrinx and amplified by the inflating air sacs, which are extensions of the esophagus. Displaying males also give cluck, whoop, whine, and cackle.

Basic Description. Few performances in the bird world are more memorable than the dawn display of Greater Prairie-Chickens at their booming ground, or lek—the traditional spot where males dance, call, and try to impress females with their vigor.

After decades of protection and conservation efforts, Texas’ critically endangered Attwater’s prairie-chicken population is at its highest since 1993. Officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservancy in Texas estimate the current population is at least 178 birds.

They tend to be easy-going, friendly, and very simple to care for.

1. Rhode Island Reds. Rhode Island Reds were my very first chickens, and so, of course, they had to be Number one on the list.
2. Australorp.
3. Buff Orpingtons.
4. Leghorns.
5. Barred Plymouth Rock.
6. Jersey Giant.
7. Easter Egger.
8. Sussex.

The Attwater’s prairie chicken is a small, brown bird about 17 inches long, with short, rounded, dark tail. Attwater’s prairie chickens live on coastal prairie grasslands with tall grasses such as little bluestem, Indian grass, and switchgrass. …

The Attwater’s prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri) is an endangered grouse that is unique to Texas and Louisiana gulf coastal areas. It is a barred brown and tan bird with a short, rounded, blackish tail. It weighs about 1.5 to 2.5 pounds.

Attwater’s prairie chickens have since disappeared from the site. In 2014, an estimated 260 birds remained, with about 100 living in the wild. Captive-breeding programs are underway at places such as Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Abilene Zoo, and Caldwell Zoo (Tyler, TX).

In general, the ESA makes it unlawful for a person to “take” a lesser prairie-chicken without a permit or authorization. Actions not covered under the 4(d) special rule that kill or injure the lesser prairie- chicken or cause significant habitat modifications may require a permit from the Service.