Species › Birds › Greater Prairie-Chicken

Greater Prairie-Chicken

Tympanuchus cupido

RareBird
Illustration of Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido)

The Greater Prairie-Chicken is an iconic grassland grouse whose booming leks — communal display grounds where males inflate orange neck sacs and call — are one of the most extraordinary wildlife spectacles of the Great Plains. Its population has declined catastrophically with the conversion of native prairie, and it is extirpated from much of its historical range. The 'Attwater's' subspecies is critically endangered.

Habitat
Native tallgrass and mixed-grass prairie
Diet
Seeds, waste grain, insects, and plant material
How common
Rare

Best time to see a Greater Prairie-Chicken

The best time to see a Greater Prairie-Chicken is March–April, when about 70% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 987 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Not certain it is a Greater Prairie-Chicken? What bird is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.

Recent Greater Prairie-Chicken sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spotted a Greater Prairie-Chicken?

Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal and know for sure - plus a live map of where it is being spotted near you.

Get Huck - free
5,300+species
63national parks
50states

More birds

Greater Roadrunner
Greater Roadrunner
Geococcyx californianus
Greater Sage-Grouse
Greater Sage-Grouse
Centrocercus urophasianus
Greater Scaup
Greater Scaup
Aythya marila
Greater White-fronted Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose
Anser albifrons
Greater Yellowlegs
Greater Yellowlegs
Tringa melanoleuca
Green Hermit
Green Hermit
Phaethornis guy
Green Heron
Green Heron
Butorides virescens
Green Honeycreeper
Green Honeycreeper
Chlorophanes spiza