Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Game Birds

Sharp-tailed Grouse

Tympanuchus phasianellus

Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) — Gamebirds of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 17 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Canada Birds of the United States Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Manitoba Birds of Northwest Territories Birds of Nunavut Birds of Ontario Birds of Prince Edward Island Birds of Quebec

By family

Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of Canada Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of the United States Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of Alberta Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of British Columbia Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of Manitoba Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of Ontario Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of Quebec

See what's near you right now

The Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) is a member of the Phasianidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 882 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Galliformes
Family Phasianidae Pheasants & Allies
Genus Tympanuchus
Species phasianellus

Where it lives

North-central, northwestern

North America

Quick facts

Weight: 882 g
Diet: Plant-eaters
Family: Phasianidae
Order: Galliformes
Habitat: Grassland & open country

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Snow Partridge

Lerwa lerwa

Least Concern

Willow Ptarmigan

Lagopus lagopus

Not Evaluated

Spruce Grouse

Canachites canadensis

Least Concern

Siberian Grouse

Falcipennis falcipennis

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Sharp-tailed Grouse feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.

Behaviour

A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Sharp-tailed Grouse is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) is a member of the Phasianidae family, within the order Galliformes. Its range spans North America. Its distribution covers NA nc, nw.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 882 g, with a wing length of about 20.1 cm and a tail of around 10.3 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 6.1 million km².

Songs & calls

Sharp-tailed Grouse — Call, Several kinds of chuckles, other calls

Recorded by Valerie Heemstra Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Sharp-tailed Grouse?

The Sharp-tailed Grouse is a large bird that weighs around 882 g.

Where does the Sharp-tailed Grouse live?

The Sharp-tailed Grouse is found across North America with a range covering NA nc, nw, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.

What family does the Sharp-tailed Grouse belong to?

The Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) belongs to the Phasianidae family, in the order Galliformes.

What does the Sharp-tailed Grouse eat?

The Sharp-tailed Grouse feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.

Does the Sharp-tailed Grouse migrate?

The Sharp-tailed Grouse is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Sharp-tailed Grouse endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Sharp-tailed Grouse make?

1 real field recording of the Sharp-tailed Grouse — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Sharp-tailed Grouse's range?

The Sharp-tailed Grouse has a mapped global range of about 6.1 million km².