Prairie chickens belong to the same family as grouse and turkeys.
The greater prairie chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) and the lesser prairie chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) take their names from their resemblance to the barnyard fowl, but both belong to the Phasianidae family, a group that includes pheasants, partridges, turkeys and grouse. Their ranges and habitats overlap only on rare occasions, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, meaning you will hardly ever see them together. You can identify these birds by their specific markings and other features.
Instructions
1. Look at the sizes of prairie chickens. In both species, the male and female are the same stature. The greater prairie chicken is between 16 and 18 inches in length, while the lesser version is somewhat smaller, usually between 9 and 16 inches long, according to "What Bird's Filed Guide to Birds of North America." The average weight of the greater species is 35 oz., with the lesser prairie chicken weighing around 27 oz.
2. Observe the coloring of prairie chickens. The greater prairie chicken features a combination of darker brown and buff, banded and barred markings on its body. The lesser prairie chicken has similar markings, but they are paler. The tails of both types are a bit darker than the rest of the body is. On the head of both species are a set of yellowish eye "combs" over each brown eye. The bill is short and curved.
3. Study the air sacs on the sides of the heads prairie chickens. Used during mating, the sacs of the greater prairie chicken males are a yellow-orange, while those of the lesser prairie chicken males are reddish. Male prairie chickens also have sets of long feathers on the sides of their neck, which they have the ability to raise during courtship so they look like a set of horns.
4. Watch the prairie chicken when it flies. Its wings and tails will have a rounded appearance, and the bird will take several quick beats of its wings before gliding for a short distance. These are rapid birds when on the wing.
5. Listen for the deep call of the male prairie chickens as they look for a mate. During the process, the males dance about, jump into the air and create cooing and booming sounds with their air sacs that carry for long distances.
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