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

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

From Salon • Jun. 26, 2023

Earlier this month, the Senate voted to undo federal protections for the lesser prairie chicken, a rare grouse found in parts of the Midwest and Southwest.

From Seattle Times • May 11, 2023

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

From New York Times • Nov. 17, 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

The last morning he was there I said, "Well Colonel, how is it this morning, prairie chicken or steak, or both?"

From Little Pills, An Army Story Being Some Experiences of a United States Army Medical Officer on the Frontier Nearly a Half Century Ago by McKay, Robert Henderson