Columbian sharp-tailed grouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Columbian sharp-tailed grouse |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Galliformes |
| Family: | Phasianidae |
| Genus: | Tympanuchus |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
T. p. columbianus
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| Trinomial name | |
| Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus (Linnaeus, 1758)
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The Columbian sharp-tailed grouse (say: tim-PAN-oo-kus faz-ee-uh-NEL-us co-LUM-bee-uh-nus) is a special type of sharp-tailed grouse. This bird lives in parts of the Western United States and British Columbia, Canada. It's known for its unique looks and interesting dance moves!
Contents
About the Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse
What Does It Look Like?
The Columbian sharp-tailed grouse is the smallest of its kind. It measures about 15 to 20 inches (38 to 51 cm) long. Its feathers are mostly grayish-brown with white and black spots. It has a cool white tail shaped like a wedge.
Male grouse have a longer tail than females. They also have a purple patch on their throat. Above their eyes, males have a bright yellow comb. This comb is a fleshy growth that stands out.
Where Does It Live?
Long ago, these birds lived in many places. Their home stretched from British Columbia south through eastern Washington and Oregon. They also lived in parts of California, Nevada, and Utah. Their range went west to the Continental Divide.
These grouse like open areas. They live in prairies with sagebrush and bunchgrass. They also enjoy grassy meadows and mountain shrubs. You can sometimes find them near rivers and streams.
How We Learned About Them
The famous Lewis and Clark expedition first wrote about this bird. That was a long time ago! Later, a scientist named George Ord gave it its official name.
Why Is It Important?
The Columbian sharp-tailed grouse faces many challenges. Its natural home has shrunk a lot. This is mainly due to habitat loss. Because of this, the bird is no longer found in most of its old range.
Where Are They Now?
Today, these birds live in small, separate groups. These groups are found in central British Columbia. You can also find them in southeastern Idaho and northern Utah. Other groups live in northwestern Colorado and south-central Wyoming. Sadly, they now live in less than 10% of their original habitat.
Reintroduction Efforts
The Columbian sharp-tailed grouse disappeared from Oregon by the 1960s. But people worked hard to bring them back! In 1991, they started reintroducing these birds. This happened in Wallowa County. Now, a small group of these birds lives in the Zumwalt Prairie area.
Protecting the Species
People have tried to get special protection for this grouse. They asked for it to be listed as a threatened species. This would happen under the Endangered Species Act. But these requests were not approved. Still, the Columbian sharp-tailed grouse is considered a "Species of Concern" in several U.S. states. This means people are watching them closely. They want to make sure these unique birds can survive and thrive.
