The lesser prairie-chicken is a species in the grouse family.
Region
Southern Great Plains
Typical Environment
Occurs in portions of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas Panhandle, eastern New Mexico, and southeastern Colorado. Prefers native shortgrass and mixed-grass prairies interspersed with sand sagebrush and shinnery oak. Leks are situated in open, low-vegetation patches with good visibility, while nesting sites require taller residual grass and forb cover. The species avoids dense woodlands and tall vertical structures like wind turbines and transmission lines. It uses mosaics of grass, low shrubs, and bare ground to meet seasonal needs.
Altitude Range
500–1700 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The lesser prairie-chicken is a lekking grouse: males gather on traditional display grounds each spring to stomp, boom, and inflate bright neck sacs to attract females. It depends on large, unfragmented expanses of native prairie and sand sage/shinnery oak habitats. Habitat loss, energy development, and drought have driven significant declines, and distinct population segments are listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Conservation efforts focus on grassland restoration, grazing management, and protecting lek sites.
Temperament
wary and secretive outside leks; conspicuous on display grounds
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, direct flights; explosive flush
Social Behavior
Displays communal lek mating in spring, where multiple males perform dances and vocalizations. Females select mates on leks and then nest solitarily on the ground in dense cover. Broods are tended by females, and small flocks may form outside the breeding season.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Males produce low, resonant booming interspersed with bubbling cackles and clucks during lek displays. Wing rattles and foot-stomping add mechanical sounds to the performance.
Plumage
Heavily barred brown, buff, and white plumage with a sandy overall tone; short, rounded wings and a short tail. Males show erectable pinnae feathers on the neck during displays.
Diet
Eats a mix of seeds, green shoots, buds, and leaves from native forbs and grasses, along with grains where available. Shinnery oak catkins and leaves can be important seasonally. Insects, especially grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars, are crucial in summer and for growing chicks. Diet shifts with plant phenology and precipitation.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in open prairies with a mosaic of grasses and low shrubs, often near lek and nesting areas. Will use lightly grazed pastures, fallow fields, and native rangeland edges where cover and forage are balanced.
