Description of the Greater Prairie-Chicken
The greater prairie chicken belongs to the Grouse family. Tympanuchus cupido is their scientific name. The natural habitats are the grasslands and Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma are few of the states where they are found. It is easy to identify these birds due to a few unique physical attributes in them. The population of this species has reduced considerably. Now, they are declared ‘endangered’ and steps are being taken to protect them.
Intriguing Facts About Greater Prairie Chicken
External Appearance: The greater prairie chicken has a body size of around 16-18 inches. They generally weigh around 2-3 lbs. They have black and white or brown and white stripes. They have a short rounded tail. The males have a completely black tail, while the females have a brown band on their black tail. They have the ability to fly. They are also called Pinnated Grouse, due to the stiff feathers on their neck. They have feathers on their legs and feet, and this keeps them warm in snow. The males are more attractive than the females, and are comparatively larger than females. In males, there is an orange colored air sac on each side of the neck and adult males also have a yellow comb over their eyes. The air sacs are not covered with feathers.
Courtship: The greater prairie chicken is known for its fascinating displays during the mating season. They are polygamous by nature. They gain sexual maturity at the age of one. Before mating, the males have the task of attracting females for courtship. Males gather in a region where there is little or no vegetation. This region is termed as the Lek. Each male occupies a space for himself. Then the males start dancing. Simultaneously, they inflate their orange air sacs and make a “booming” sound. This “boom” can be heard even from a mile away. The feathers behind their neck also stiffen. The females wander around the Lek, observing the males. If a male is successful in impressing a female, they mate. Around 90% of the mating is done by the dominant males.
Territorial Dominance: These birds do not migrate. The males are very sensitive about their territory. They get aggressive if other males try to invade their region. The orange esophageal air sacs inflate during fights too, accompanied with the “booming” noises and the stiffening of the feathers behind their neck. Read the rest of this entry »