Species: Tympanuchus phasianellus

Sharp-tailed Grouse

Species

Birds

Encyclopedia of Puget Sound

Classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Craniata

Class

Aves

Order

Galliformes

Family

Phasianidae

Genus

Tympanuchus

NatureServe

Source:
ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104212

Classification

Other Global Common Names

tétras à queue fine

Informal Taxonomy

Animals, Vertebrates - Birds - Other Birds

Formal Taxonomy

Animalia - Craniata - Aves - Galliformes - Phasianidae - Tympanuchus - T. CUPIDO and T. PHASIANELLUS hybridize sporadically, but occasionally they interbreed extensively on a local level (AOU 1983). Genetically, the three species of TYMPANUCHUS are not clearly distinct; evidently morphological and behavioral differentiation have progressed rapidly relative to either mtDNA or allozymes (Ellsworth et al. 1994). Six recognized subspecies in North America (AOU 1957, Aldrich 1963). Seventh subspecies HUEYI (formerly New Mexico) extinct since mid-1950s (Dickerman and Hubbard 1994).

Ecology and Life History

Short General Description

A large bird (grouse).

Migration

true - false - false - (Edminster 1954, Shiller 1973, Sisson 1976, Caldwell 1976, Giesen 1987).

Non-migrant

true

Locally Migrant

false

Food Comments

Forages on ground for succulent insects, forbs, grasses and seeds; also in shrubs or trees on fruits and buds (Grange 1948, Hillman and Jackson 1973, Prose 1987, Ulliman 1995). Roughly 90 percent or more is plant material; 10 percent (up to 40 percent in summer) of adult bird's diet is insects (HYMENOPTERA, ORTHOPTERA, LEPIDOPTERA; Bent 1932, Prose 1987). Observation in captivity indicates that for the first few weeks chicks are almost entirely insectivorous (Merker 1996). During winter may confine most foraging activity to shrub, hardwood draws, riparian forest, orchards, or hedgerows (Swenson 1985, Schneider 1994, Ulliman 1995). Buds of serviceberry (AMELANCHIER ALNIFOLIA), chokecherry (PRUNUS VIRGINIANA), aspen (POPULUS spp.), and fruits of hawthorn (CRATAEGUS DOUGLASSII), buffaloberry (SHEPERDIA ARGENTEA), Russian olive (ELEAGNUS ANGUSTIFOLIA), snowberry (SYMPHORICARPOS spp.) and rose (ROSA spp.) are primary winter foods. Extensive winter feeding on buds and catkins of birch (BETULA spp.) and some willow (SALIX spp.; Zeigler 1979, Ritcey 1995, Deeble 1996). No regular association with free water; most dietary water probably obtained from food items, snow, dew. For a further summary of diet information see Connelly et al. (1998).

Reproduction Comments

Breeding begins in early April in the south to early May in north. Males engage in communal courtship displays at leks. Polygynous. Nest and young are tended by female. Brood disperses in 6-8 weeks. Clutch size averages 11-12 eggs (Hamerstrom 1939, Hart et al. 1950, Meints 1991, Cope 1992). Incubation period 21-23 days. May renest if first clutch is destroyed.

Ecology Comments

Males employ elaborate courtship displays in the spring to attract females to central communal display grounds called leks. Males remain near leks April- May, and again during October to establish territories. In Manitoba, leks averaged 2.2 kilometers apart (Baydack 1988). Because of their importance, leks and their surrounding area are the principal units affecting demographics (Connelly et al. 1998). <br><br>Size of spring/autumn home ranges varies from 13 to 406 hectares (summarized by Connelly et al. 1998). In western Idaho, summer home range averaged 190 hectares (Saab and Marks 1992). The areas used are usually within a few kilometers of a lek. Seasonal movements to wintering areas from breeding grounds are usually less than 5 kilometers (Giesen and Connelly 1993), but can be up to 20 kilometers in Idaho (Meints 1991). Estimated densities range from 0.6-4.4 individuals per square kilometer (Connelly et al. 1998). <br><br>Feeds mainly on ground during spring, summer, and fall (Hart et al. 1950). Feeds in daytime; greater foraging activity in early morning and late evening during spring, summer, and fall; in winter, feeds throughout day. Gathers in flocks in fall and winter (Hart et al. 1950).

Length

Weight

953

Conservation Status

NatureServe Global Status Rank

Global Status Last Reviewed

1999-12-31

Global Status Last Changed

1996-12-30

Other Status

LC - Least concern

Distribution

Conservation Status Map

Global Range

FG - 20,000-2,500,000 square km (about 8000-1,000,000 square miles) - FG - RESIDENT: locally from Alaska, and Yukon east to western Quebec, south to eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, southern Idaho, Utah, Colorado, northeastern New Mexico (at least formerly), Nebraska, eastern South Dakota, eastern North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, northern Michigan; formerly south to southern Oregon, northeastern California, northeastern Nevada, western Kansas, southern Iowa, northern Illinois, and probably northern Texas (AOU 1983, Connelly et al. 1998).

Global Range Code

Global Range Description

20,000-2,500,000 square km (about 8000-1,000,000 square miles)

ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104212