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

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

After a while there came from across the prairie the ascending, interrogative boo-oo-m of a prairie chicken not far distant, while from far away came the faint notes of another.

From The Story of a Doctor's Telephone?Told by His Wife by Firebaugh, Ellen M.