Sharp-tailed Grouse
A species of Prairie-chickens Scientific name : Tympanuchus phasianellus Genus : Prairie-chickens
Sharp-tailed Grouse, A species of Prairie-chickens
Botanical name: Tympanuchus phasianellus
Genus: Prairie-chickens
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Francesco Veronesi , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
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. This display patch is another distinguishing characteristic from prairie chickens as male prairie chickens have yellow or orange colored air sacs. The female is smaller than the male and can be distinguished by the regular horizontal markings across the deck feathers as opposed to the irregular markings on the males deck feathers which run parallel to the feather shaft. Females also tend to have less obvious combs. Measurements: Length: 15.0-19.0 in (38.1-48.3 cm) Weight: 21.0-31.0 oz (596-880 g) Wingspan: 24.4-25.6 in (62-65 cm) 
Size
41-48 cm (16-19 in)
Life Expectancy
7.5-8 years
Nest Placement
Ground
Clutch Size
9 - 12 eggs
Incubation Period
1 brood
Number of Broods
21 - 23 days
Nestling Period
7 - 10 days
Feeding Habits
Sharp-tailed Grouse's diet consists of grasses, forbs, buds, seeds, flowers, fruits, acorns, and grains, including cultivated crops like sunflower, corn, wheat, and oats. They also consume insects, especially in summer. Feeding behaviors include ground foraging and perching in vegetation for fruits and buds. Grit ingestion is crucial for food digestion.
Habitat
Sharp-tailed Grouse is commonly found in diverse habitats ranging from northern prairies to boreal bogs, largely depending on areas with a mix of dense shrubs and grasslands. These birds thrive in environments where high-quality nesting areas are available, particularly under shrubs with foliage at least 30 cm high. Ideal conditions include a high diversity of shrubs, forbs with dense vegetation such as rose, cherry, serviceberry, snowberry, and sagebrush, interspersed with open spaces for their leks. In the southern part of their range, native grasses like bluestems and wheatgrass are crucial, serving as foraging grounds, especially for chicks requiring insects. During harsher conditions, sharp-tailed Grouse utilizes croplands, as well as more sheltered areas like woodlands or streamside shrubs, for greater protection against the elements.
Nest Behavior
Sharp-tailed Grouse females select nest sites near leks, less than a mile away, favoring areas with adequate vegetation for concealment. Nest construction coincides with breeding season, followed by egg-laying. Parental care is primarily the female's responsibility, who incubates the eggs and tends to the young post-hatching.
Nest Characteristics
Sharp-tailed Grouse nests are oval-shaped depressions situated in grasslands with brushy cover, constructed with grasses, sedges, ferns, mosses, forbs, leaves, and occasionally lined with breast feathers. Dimensions are roughly 7 inches wide and 2.8 inches deep with vegetation surrounding the site measuring at least 3 inches high.
Dite type
Herbivorous
General Info
Behavior
Sharp-tailed Grouse exhibit a lively and often fearless demeanor, engaging in regular feedings by pecking at the ground and leaping into flora for foraging or observation. Their flight is robust, punctuated by forceful wingbeats and graceful glides, indicative of a routine of traveling between feeding and resting sites. Notably, sharp-tailed Grouse's springtime leks showcase their unique mating dance - a visually striking performance of physical displays and sounds designed to allure mates. Territorial aggression among males may occur, with some achieving greater mating success, often linked to central lek positioning and vigorous dance rituals. Outside the mating season, sharp-tailed Grouse tend to form flocks, underscoring their social nature.
Distribution Area
Sharp-tailed grouse historically occupied eight Canadian provinces and 21 U.S. states pre-European settlement. They ranged from as far north as Alaska, south to California and New Mexico, and east to Quebec, Canada. Following European settlement the sharp-tailed grouse has been extirpated from California, Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Nevada, and New Mexico.
Species Status
These birds are declining in numbers and range due to habitat loss, but overall they are not considered a threatened species.
Scientific Classification
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