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

The lesser prairie chicken, which has declined by more than 90%, is the only grassland bird federally listed as endangered, in part of its range.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 25, 2023

Burd also expressed excitement that the Attwater's greater prairie chicken is on the new list.

From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2023

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

From New York Times ● Nov. 17, 2022

This behavior is observed in several bird species including the sage grouse and the prairie chicken.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

At times, the sun was actually darkened by the flight of wild pigeons, while the prairie chicken was found in all the open tracts and grass lands.

From The Land of the Miamis An Account of the Struggle to Secure Possession of the North-West from the End of the Revolution until 1812 by Barce, Elmore