Sophie Bennett
The sharp-tailed grouse and greater prairie chicken are closely related native birds with overlapping habitats and behaviours. They are collectively referred to as prairie grouse and are primarily found in the grasslands of central and western North America. While they are similar in size, there are several key differences between the two species. This paragraph will outline the main ways to tell sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chickens apart.
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What You'll Learn
- Prairie chickens have feathering that is light brown and stops short of their toes
- Sharp-tailed grouse have feathers down their entire feet and toes, which are mostly white
- Male prairie chickens have yellow or orange air sacs on the sides of their necks
- Sharp-tailed grouse have light-coloured tails
- Sharp-tailed grouse have V-shaped barring on their breasts and bellies
Prairie chickens have feathering that is light brown and stops short of their toes
One of the key differences between prairie chickens and sharp-tailed grouse is the extent and colour of their feathering. Prairie chickens have light brown feathering that extends only partway down their legs, leaving their toes exposed. In contrast, sharp-tailed grouse have white feathers that cover their entire feet, including their toes.
Both species have feathered feet, which distinguishes them from pheasants and quail, which do not. The light brown colour of the prairie chicken's feathers stands in contrast to the white feathers of the sharp-tailed grouse. The feathers of the prairie chicken also tend to stop at the hock joint, which is a common feature among chicken breeds.
The male prairie chicken has yellow to orange air sacs on the sides of its neck, while the male sharp-tailed grouse has light purple air sacs. These air sacs are used during their booming display in spring, and the colour difference can be a distinguishing factor when identifying the two species.
In terms of physical appearance, the prairie chicken has a short, dark, and rounded tail, while the sharp-tailed grouse has a short tail with two central feathers that are longer and darker than the outer tail feathers. The sharp-tailed grouse is named for these distinctive tail feathers.
Both species occupy similar habitats and exhibit many of the same behaviours. They are found in wide-open grasslands and prairies and share a preference for vegetation around 15 to 18 inches tall, which allows them to see approaching dangers. They also have a complicated hierarchy system that plays out throughout the year, with birds gathering at leks, typically located on ridgetops.
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Sharp-tailed grouse have feathers down their entire feet and toes, which are mostly white
Sharp-tailed grouse and greater prairie chickens are closely related native birds that primarily occupy prairie-dominated landscapes. They are similar in size and have many of the same behaviours, and both species prefer wide-open grasslands and prairies. However, there are several characteristics that set them apart.
One of the most notable differences between the two species is the colouring and extent of their feathering. While both have feathered feet, sharp-tailed grouse have feathers down their entire feet and toes, and these feathers are mostly white. In contrast, prairie chickens have light brown feathers that stop short of their toes, exposing yellowish scales.
The tail colour is another distinguishing factor. Sharp-tailed grouse have a light-coloured tail with a white edge and a pointed, elongated, spiky appearance. Prairie chickens, on the other hand, have a dark-banded tail that appears somewhat squared-off in flight.
The colour of the inflatable air sacs on the males of both species also differs. Male greater prairie chickens have yellow to orange-coloured air sacs, while sharp-tailed grouse have light purple air sacs.
Additionally, sharp-tailed grouse have a pale belly and spotted plumage, giving them a frosted appearance distinct from the darker, barred plumage of prairie chickens.
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Male prairie chickens have yellow or orange air sacs on the sides of their necks
Male prairie chickens and sharp-tailed grouse have some similar characteristics, but there are also some distinct differences between the two species. Both species occupy nearly identical habitats and have many of the same behaviours. They prefer wide-open grasslands and prairies, calling large, treeless landscapes across the Midwest home. They also have a similar size, feathered feet, and complicated hierarchy systems.
However, one of the most notable differences between the two species is the colour of the inflatable air sacs on the sides of the males' necks. Male greater prairie chickens have yellow to orange-coloured air sacs, while sharp-tailed grouse have light purple air sacs. These air sacs are used during the males' booming display in spring when they inflate their sacs and "'boom" to attract females.
The colour of the tail is another distinguishing factor. Prairie chickens have a short, dark, and rounded tail, while sharp-tailed grouse have a relatively short tail with two central feathers that are longer and darker than the outer tail feathers, which are mostly white.
In addition to the physical differences, the two species also have different population trends. While sharp-tailed grouse and greater prairie chicken populations in South Dakota are monitored through various methods, the lesser prairie chicken population has been declining in recent years, with an estimated population of 25,261 birds in 2016, down from 29,162 in 2015.
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Sharp-tailed grouse have light-coloured tails
The light-coloured tail of the sharp-tailed grouse is a distinguishing factor when comparing the species to the prairie chicken, which has a dark band tail colour. The sharp-tailed grouse's light tail is clearly visible when the bird is in flight.
The sharp-tailed grouse is a large bird with a relatively short tail, and the two central tail feathers are square-tipped. The tail is held straight up when displaying, and the bird's light-coloured undersides are also visible at this time. The sharp-tailed grouse is mottled overall in brown, gold, white, and black, with white undertail coverts.
The light-coloured tail of the sharp-tailed grouse is a distinctive feature, and it is one of the key characteristics that differentiate this species from the prairie chicken. The sharp-tailed grouse is a native bird primarily distributed across prairie-dominated landscapes, and its light-coloured tail is well-adapted to blend into the grassland habitat.
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Sharp-tailed grouse have V-shaped barring on their breasts and bellies
Sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) and greater prairie chickens are closely related native birds that are primarily distributed across prairie-dominated landscapes. They occupy nearly identical habitats and exhibit similar behaviours. For instance, both species prefer wide-open grasslands and prairies, and their seasons usually coincide.
However, one key difference between the two species is the barring on their breasts and bellies. Sharp-tailed grouses have V-shaped barring on their breasts and bellies, with barring heavier on the breast and fading to white on the belly. In contrast, greater prairie chickens have heavy horizontal barring across their backs, breasts, and bellies. The V-shaped barring on the breasts and bellies of sharp-tailed grouse is, therefore, a distinguishing feature that can be used to tell them apart from greater prairie chickens.
The plumage of sharp-tailed grouse is mottled dark and light browns against a light background, with lighter underparts. The adult males have a yellow comb over their eyes and a violet display patch on their necks, which is another distinguishing feature from prairie chickens, as male prairie chickens have yellow or orange-coloured air sacs. The female sharp-tailed grouse is smaller than the male and can be distinguished by the regular horizontal markings across the deck feathers.
Sharp-tailed grouse are social birds that sometimes perch in trees. They forage both on the ground and in trees, feeding on seeds, grains, insects, buds, flowers, and berries. They are strong fliers and can cover several miles between roosting and feeding areas.
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Frequently asked questions
Prairie chickens have a short, dark, and rounded tail, whereas sharp-tailed grouse have tapered tails that come to a point in the middle with two central feathers that are longer and darker than the outer tail feathers. Sharp-tailed grouse have V-shaped barring on their breast and belly, while greater prairie chickens have heavy horizontal barring across their backs, breasts, and bellies.
Both prairie chickens and sharp-tailed grouse are similar in size and occupy nearly identical habitats. They both have feathered feet, which is not the case for pheasants or quail. They also share an affinity for alfalfa.
Sharp-tailed grouse are found throughout Alaska, much of Northern and Western Canada, and parts of the Western and Midwestern United States. They are the provincial bird of Saskatchewan. Prairie chickens have a range south of Saskatchewan.
