• Subfamily Phasianinae- Partridges, Pheasants

Phasianus colchicus- Ring-necked Pheasant

Tympanuchus cupido attwateri- Attwater's Greater Prairie Chicken

I'm Endangered

Range map for Attwater's Greater Prairie Chicken is not available.

The Greater Prairie Chicken is a resident of tall grass prairies. Approximately 17 inches tall, the Greater Prairie Chicken is a medium sized grouse which is barred brown overall, the subspecies Attwater's Prairie Chicken being of a darker color. Males and females look similar, but the males have long tufts of feathers and orange air sacks on the sides of their necks.  Greater Prairie Chickens forage on the ground during the early morning and early evening, for seeds, grains and insects. In the spring, male Greater Prairie Chickens display to the females in a communal display area called a Lek (booming ground). Each male defends a territory within the lek and fights are common. Females may also chase and displace one another from the lek area. During the display the male inflates his golden neck sacks and makes a deep booming sound. Few of the males will mate; usually the older birds will be most successful. The females may visit more than one lek before selecting a partner. Prairie Chickens are highly social and will form into flocks during the winter. The nest is a shallow bowl among tall grasses which is lined with leaves and feathers. The female lays 10-12 olive, brown spotted eggs. She will incubate and raise the chicks alone. The chicks hatch after approximately 23 to 25 days, and the hen may assist by chipping pieces of egg shell away. The chicks are precocial and leave the nest with the hen soon after hatching. The hen will brood the chicks during the first week but they need no help finding food and forage close to the hen maintaining contact by calls. By two weeks of age the chicks begin to fly and take dust baths. A second clutch may be laid, which will usually be smaller than the first. Juvenile birds flock together after fledging and will begin to breed the following year. There are three subspecies of Greater Prairie Chicken: Tympanuchus cupido cupido- Heath Hen is now extinct due to market hunting and habitat loss. Recent DNA analysis indicates that the Heath Hen was far more distantly related to the Greater Prairie Chicken than previously thought, and may in fact have been a distinct species. To learn more about the Heath Hen read Birds of a Very Different Feather in Martha's Vineyard Magazine. Tympanuchus cupido attwateri- Attwater's Greater Prairie Chicken is endangered and is found only in the Gulf coast prairies of Texas. Only one percent of the original six million acres of coastal prairies now remains and this no longer exists in its original form where grazing bison and naturally occuring periodic fires modified the landscape. The population of Attwater's Greater Prairie Chicken numbered a million individuals in about 1900, but a hundred years later less than sixty wild birds remained. Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge and Texas City Prairie Preserve have been set aside to preserve habitat for this species, which was listed as endangered in 1967. Captive breeding programs have been successful and allow for the release of captive born chicks to increase the remaining wild population. The Houston Zoo is the coordinator for this captive breeding program. Learn more about the captive breeding program and make a donation to support this valuable work here. Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus- Greater Prairie Chicken is endangered in 15 states due to habitat loss. To learn more way in which you can help this species visit The Nature Conservancy, and Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge.

• Subfamily Meleagridinae- Turkeys

Meleagris gallopavo- Wild Turkey

Callipepla californica- California Quail

Calinus virginianus- Northern Bobwhite