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“This partnership is an exceptional example of teamwork and partnership between private land stewards, State and Federal natural resource agencies and the Fish & Wildlife Service.”
H. Dale Hall
Director, SW Region
United States Fish & Wildlife Service
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Birding & Wildlife
The Lesser Prairie Chicken
Rare Native Bird of the Texas Panhandle
A member of the grouse species, the Lesser Prairie Chicken is about the size of a domestic chicken. It is mostly brown in color with darker, extensive horizontal barring on its breast, back, wings and belly. The adult male boasts a yellow orange comb, darl, elongated head feathers and a circular, pinkish-orange unfeathered neck patch that's inflated during displaying. Females are similar, but lack the yellow comb and neck patch.
As spring winds sweep across the Texas Panhandle, observant bird watchers may detect a deep, resonant booming echo from the hilltops and rises of the surrounding plains. This unique call is the sound of the Lesser Prairie Chicken, a rare bird native to the Texas Panhandle. In early spring the male Lesser PRairie Chicken begins the annual struggle to establish breeding territories, gathering on traditional "booming grounds" in Hemphill, Lipscomb, Wheeler, Donley, Gray and Collingsworth counties. There, the rare birds practice the mating ritual that will begin inearnest in March and continue into May. Bird watchers are often enthralled by the brilliant displays comprised of proud males protecting thier territory from invasion by other males. Fights and face-offs are common with males leaping into the air, spurring each other or pinning each other to the grund as they thrash each other with their wings. Bluffs eventually replace the frentic sparring as territorial boundaries are established and as spring progresses the males turn their attention to available females. In March the Prairie Chickens begin their colorful courtship ritual, struting, stomping, cackling, jumping and bowing in efforts to attract a female to their territory. After capturing her elusive attention, they then attempt to entice her with their most splendid displays. The intricate mating dance is accompanied by a deep booming sound, which occurs as the male Prairie chickens inflate and deflate the orange air sacs on their necks. After the unique courtship ritual, dominant males mate with females, then return to booming grounds for additional mating opportunities. The female Prairie Chickens generally begin their nesting activities during the peak of mating displays, usually during the secnd and third weeks in April. Nest sites, which consisits of shallow depressions lined with dried grass and feathers, occur on the ground in tall grass areas. The females lay between 9 to 13 olive, buff colored or specled eggs,which hatch within 21 to 23 days. The chicks are able to run when they leave the shell, and can leave the nest within a few hours afer they are hatched. By September, they appear full grown.
Click here for more information on the Lesser Prairie Chicken and to listen to it's call
Go to the Outdoor Adventures page for information on Lesser Prairie Chicken viewing packages.
Great Texas Wildlife Trail
PBS Bird Watch
Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
Learning the Birds with Ruth Beasley
TexBirds
Texas Panhandle Audubon
Dallas Audubon
Houston Audubon
Austin Audubon
Llano Estacado Audubon
Cornell University All About Birds
Great Site for Bird Sounds: Mangoverde World Bird Guide
Birds
of the High Plains and Rolling Plains of Texas Field Checklist by Kenneth
D. Seyffert (pdf document)
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