Lesser prairie-chicken
Tympanuchus pallidicinctus
Identification Tips:
- Sexes similar
- Medium-sized, stocky, round-winged, chicken-like bird
- Short, rounded, dark tail
- Buff plumage barred extensively about breast, back, wings and belly with darker bars
Adult male:
- Yellow-orange comb over eye
- Dark, elongated head feathers can be raised or lain along neck
- Circular, pinkish unfeathered neck patch inflated when displaying
Adult female:
- Shorter head feathers and lacks yellow comb and pink neck patch
Similar species:
Lesser Prairie-Chicken is very similar to the Greater Prairie-Chicken but
males have a pinkish, not yellow, neck patch. The overall plumage of the
Lesser is paler and less heavily barred. The Lesser Prairie-Chicken prefers
drier habitats. Sharp-tailed Grouse is similar but has a white, pointed tail
and spotted, not barred, underparts.