Sharp-tailed Grouse

The Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) habitats are steppe, and grasslands. They are distributed over most of the central and western United States and western Canada. These Grouse are medium-sized, 40 to 48cm long and 500 to 1000g heavy. Both genders are cryptically colored, and the upper body is heavily barred with dark brown, black, and buff. Normally the underside of a Grouse is white. Females have a continuous dark line along both sides of the head and darker brown feathers. Males have a pale violet airsac and a yellow-orange comb over each eye.

In British Columbia the Sharp-tailed Grouse is the only species that exhibits lekking behaviour. They start lekking during spring when the males congregate and defend territories in traditional areas known as dancing grounds or leks. The dance moves are used to impress the females. There is a variety of habitat for Sharp-tailed Grouse, although the presence of open areas juxtaposed with shrubby and open parkland is common to all occupied areas. In British Columbia the Sharp-tailed Grouse is found at elevations from 275 to 2135m. The main predators of Grouse are Coyotes, Northern Goshawks, Short eared Owls, Great Horned Owls and Red tailed Hawks.

Source: Sharp-Tailed Grouse

General issues across the Sub Region will be addressed below, followed by management plans specific to individual populations.

Issues:

• There may be herbicide spraying in regions in the Sub Region that may be affecting birds that eat or depend on the sprayed plants

Goals:

• Determine where and when herbicide spraying occurs, and what plant species are being treated
• Determine if the herbicide spraying is affecting sharp-tailed grouse populations