prairie chicken

American  

[prair-ee chik-uhn] / ˈprɛər i ˌtʃɪk ən /

noun

1. either of two North American gallinaceous birds of western prairies, Tympanuchus cupido greater prairie chicken, or T. pallidicinctus lesser prairie chicken, having brown, black, white, and rufous plumage: both species, once abundant, have diminished greatly in number and are classified as vulnerable.

2. sharp-tailed grouse.

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prairie chicken British  

noun

1. either of two mottled brown-and-white grouse, Tympanuchus cupido or T. pallidicinctus, of North America

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Etymology

Origin of prairie chicken

An Americanism dating back to 1685–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

prairie chicken

Laura Parker, a lawyer for the center, said it can be hard for people to understand why a tiny lizard, or rare mussel species, or the lesser prairie chicken are worth preserving.

From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2026

Clay Nichols, the lesser prairie chicken coordinator with the U.S.

From New York Times ● Nov. 17, 2022

Fish and Wildlife Service is nearly five months late in releasing a final rule outlining protections for the lesser prairie chicken.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 25, 2022

Those species include the endangered Attwater’s prairie chicken, but also the somewhat less sympathetic native fire ant, which most people would be hard pressed to tell apart from the imported kind.

From Washington Post ● Jun. 17, 2022

To the south a prairie chicken drummed, and a cow called to her calf, whose reply came from a point still farther in the distance.

From The Wind Before the Dawn by Munger, Dell H.