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Species authority page

Greater prairie-chicken

Tympanuchus cupido · Prairie grouse · Grouse · Upland game birds

Greater prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido): Chunky brown grouse, 41-48 cm, heavily barred, especially on the underparts. Short black tail visible in flight. This profile does not establish whether taking it is legal anywhere.

Check rules for a place and dateOpen the greater prairie-chicken map

Certified rules currently represented in Hunt: coverage in development. This is coverage, not a legal answer.

Greater prairie-chicken displaying on open ground
Adobe Stock · Standard License (asset 169493006)
Scientific name
Tympanuchus cupido
Family
Phasianidae
Range
Now uncommon and localized to remaining native tall-grass prairie in the midwestern United States. The Atlantic Coast race (Heath Hen) became extinct in 1932 and the Texas coastal Attwater's race is seriously endangered.
Biology

How to identify it

Chunky brown grouse, 41-48 cm, heavily barred, especially on the underparts. [1]

Short black tail visible in flight. [1]

Male has yellow-orange neck air sacs and raised feather tufts, visible only in courtship display. [1]

Sexes similar; male slightly larger. [1]

Species it is confused with

Check these before deciding what you are looking at. If you are not certain what it is, do not shoot.

Field notes

  • Identification Do not identify Greater prairie-chicken from colour alone. Compare structure, size, range and the listed similar species before making a field decision.[1]
Field knowledge

Where it lives

Native tall-grass prairie, including prairie interspersed with agricultural fields; prime original habitat was prairie mixed with oak woodland. Nests on the ground in thick tall grass. [1]

Field knowledge

How it behaves

In spring, typically 8-20 males gather on 'booming grounds', often a low hill with good visibility, and display with a hollow moaning 'boom', foot-stamping and cackles. [1]

Some birds are permanent residents; others move up to about 160 km (100 miles) between breeding and wintering areas. [1]

Forages mostly on the ground, mainly in early morning and evening; winter diet is leaves, seeds and waste grain, summer diet adds buds, berries and insects. [1]

Regulatory handoff

Where it is listed for legal take

These authorities list this species for legal take in their own regulations.

Conservation and protection

Where legal take is listed

Being listed is not an open season. Seasons, zones, licences, methods and limits decide whether this animal may be taken on a given day and place — check Hunt or the authority before you go. Listings read 2026-09-30.

Geospatial intelligence

Where it is found

Now uncommon and localized to remaining native tall-grass prairie in the midwestern United States. The Atlantic Coast race (Heath Hen) became extinct in 1932 and the Texas coastal Attwater's race is seriously endangered.

Biology

Sources

Every claim above is attributed to one of these published sources.

  1. National Audubon Society · reviewed 2026-09-30

    National Audubon Society