Little prairie chicken
| Little prairie chicken | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Little prairie chicken ( Tympanuchus pallidicinctus ) |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Tympanuchus pallidicinctus | ||||||||||||
| ( Ridgway , 1873) |
The prairie chicken ( Tympanuchus pallidicinctus ) is a species from the pheasant family. The species occurs exclusively in the southwest of North America.
Appearance
The small prairie chicken reaches a body length of 38 to 41 centimeters. The males are slightly larger than the females. Males weigh an average of 790 grams, the females weigh an average of 700 grams. The appearance is otherwise similar to that of the prairie chicken , with which the small prairie chicken is closely related.
distribution and habitat
The prairie chicken was originally found throughout the southwest of the Great Plains. The range included the southeast of Colorado, the southwest of Kansas, the west of Oklahoma, the north of Texas and the east of New Mexico. Currently, the small prairie chicken is only found in 10 percent of the original range and the range is fragmented. The species is therefore endangered.
Way of life
Like all prairie chickens, the little prairie chicken courted in Leks . Usually 10 to 15 males court each other. But more than 40 courting cocks have also been observed. The clutch usually consists of 12 to 14 very light-colored eggs. The laying time falls between April and May. The incubation period is 24 days.
supporting documents
literature
- Steve Madge , Phil McGowan, and Guy M. Kirwan : Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse. A Guide to the Pheasants, Partridges, Quails, Grouse, Guineafowl, Buttonquails and Sandgrouse of the world. Christopher Helm, London 2002, ISBN 0-7136-3966-0 .
Single receipts
Web links
- Tympanuchus pallidicinctus in the Red List of Threatened Species of the IUCN 2013.1. Listed by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2013.