Prairie chickens
| Prairie chickens | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||
|
||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||
| Tympanuchus | ||||||||
| Gloger , 1841 |
The prairie chickens ( Tympanuchus ) are a species of bird from the family of pheasant-like (Phasianidae) used to order the chicken birds heard (Galliformes). As a rule, three species that only occur in North America are now included in the genus. The extinct heather grouse is considered a subspecies of the prairie chicken , one of the species in this genus.
All three species belong to the rather small grouse and reach a body length of 40 to 43 centimeters. They inhabit various forms of the prairie in North America . They are known for their elaborate courtship behavior. The males gather in leks , where they shout loudly and dance around the females with their necks straight and tails spread. The air sacs on the neck are inflated wide.
The stocks have declined to varying degrees. The prairie chicken was once found across North America , with the population reduced to just 1% through hunting and the creation of grazing and cultivation areas. Today it only lives in the central United States in the states of Nebraska , Oklahoma, and South Dakota , where it competes with the abandoned pheasant . The males stay in their mating grounds even in winter, the females migrate south.
species
The following species belong to the prairie chickens:
- Grouse , Tympanuchus phasianellus , northern North America
- Prairie Chicken , Tympanuchus cupido , central USA
- Small prairie chicken , Tympanuchus pallidicinctus , south-central USA
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 .
