Lesser Prairie-Chicken

Overview

The Lesser Prairie-Chicken occupies shortgrass and sand sagebrush prairie of the southern Great Plains, a more arid habitat than that used by the Greater Prairie-Chicken. It shares the same lekking courtship behavior, with males gathering on display grounds to perform booming calls and foot-stamping displays.

Feather Identification

• Body feathers: finely barred in pale brown and buff tones, generally lighter and less contrasting than those of the Greater Prairie-Chicken
• Pinnae feathers: shorter and less prominent than in the Greater Prairie-Chicken, though still raised during display
• Tail feathers: short, dark, and rounded, similar in shape to the Greater Prairie-Chicken but from a smaller-bodied bird
• Size: overall smaller feathers than the Greater Prairie-Chicken, consistent with its smaller body size
• Vs. Greater Prairie-Chicken: paler ground color and finer barring are the main plumage clues, though the two species have limited range overlap

Plumage Notes

Both sexes share a pale brown-and-buff barred pattern, with males slightly larger and showing bare reddish-purple neck skin (air sacs) along with shorter pinnae feathers than the Greater Prairie-Chicken. Females lack the pinnae and are more evenly barred. Juveniles resemble females. A single molt occurs annually after breeding.

Habitat & Range

Lesser Prairie-Chickens inhabit shortgrass prairie and sand sagebrush rangeland in a limited region of the southern Great Plains, including parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico. The species is non-migratory, remaining in the same general grassland landscape throughout the year.

Behavior & Field Notes

Males display on communal leks, inflating reddish-purple air sacs, producing a booming call, and stamping their feet while raising short pinnae feathers. Diet includes seeds, leaves, and insects, shifting with seasonal availability. Nests are shallow scrapes hidden in grass or low shrub cover. The species can be locally common on leks in spring but is otherwise cryptic and easily overlooked in its arid grassland habitat.