ID Keys: Generally distinctive in range. Grayish-brown
overall, barring on back and underparts.
The
Lesser Prairie-Chicken is a very close relative of the
Greater Prairie-Chicken, but
the ranges of the two species do not overlap. Numbers of the species
have declined precipitously since the late 1800s, and they are now found in
only a fraction of their former habitat, in scattered locations in Texas,
New Mexico, Kansas, and Oklahoma. The species had declined
already by the 1930s, with hunting restrictions in place in some regions
even then. However, continued habitat losses have continued to result
in a decline and fragmentation of remaining birds.
Habitat
Prefers shortgrass prairie with scattered
shrubs, especially seeming to favor shrubby oaks referred to as "shin oaks".
They will use agricultural land to feed on seeds and grains, but without
adequate, large expanses of grassland in proximity to agricultural land, the
species does poorly. Historically, the species often was found in and
around prairie dog towns, but prairie dog town area in the western U.S. has
declined by over 98% since the mid-1800s. Leks, the breeding grounds
of Lesser Prairie-Chickens, used to often be found on prairie dog towns.
Diet
Feeds on a variety of plant and animal
matter, including seeds, berries, leaves, buds, acorns, waste grain, and
insects.
Nesting
Breeding occurs on leks, breeding grounds
where males display to females. Leks are often used year after year,
although lek locations may change if habitat change has occurred.
After mating, the females move to nesting habitat, typically within a mile
or two of the breeding lek. When the young hatch, females tend to the
young on brooding grounds that are typically more open in nature than the
nesting grounds, with a higher proportion of grasses and forbs and fewer
shrubs.
Song
Display of the male is accompanied by a low
series of hooting and clucking. Clucking notes can also be heard from
both species.
The IUCN "red-list" shows the
species as "vulnerable". Populations have declined drastically since
the 1800s, and the range of the species is now scattered and localized.
The species is not yet listed as threatened or endangered in the U.S., but
in 1995, U.S. Fish and Wildlife deemed such a listing was "warranted", and
designation as a threatened species is possible in the very near future.
Despite the population declines, hunting is still allowed in some states in
its range.
