The lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) is a species of prairie grouse found in the grasslands of the central and southern Great Plains of North America. They are known for their distinctive courtship displays on breeding grounds called leks. Lesser prairie-chickens have experienced significant population declines in recent decades due to habitat loss and fragmentation, leading to them being listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Understanding their geographic range and distribution is important for conservation efforts.
Current Range
Lesser prairie-chickens are currently found in isolated populations across five states in the Great Plains:
- Kansas
- Colorado
- Oklahoma
- Texas
- New Mexico
Within these states, lesser prairie-chickens primarily occur in shorter grass prairies, sand sagebrush prairies, and shinnery oak grasslands. Their range centers around the Shortgrass Prairie and Sand Sagebrush Prairie ecoregions.
Kansas
In Kansas, lesser prairie-chickens are found mainly in the southwestern and south-central regions of the state. This includes areas such as the Red Hills region near Medicine Lodge and the sand sagebrush prairies of the High Plains. Main counties include Barber, Comanche, Clark, Meade, and Kiowa.
Colorado
Lesser prairie-chickens in Colorado mostly inhabit the southeastern corner of the state, in the Shortgrass Prairie. Main counties include Baca, Prowers, Kiowa, Cheyenne, and Pueblo. The largest population is found in the Comanche National Grassland.
Oklahoma
Most of the lesser prairie-chicken’s range in Oklahoma falls within what is called the Sand Sagebrush Prairie ecoregion, encompassing much of the western half of the state. Major counties include Beaver, Cimarron, Texas, Woodward, and Woods. The Oklahoma Panhandle region also provides habitat.
Texas
In Texas, lesser prairie-chickens primarily reside in the northeastern Texas Panhandle, as well as some southern parts of the Panhandle. Main counties are Hemphill, Lipscomb, Ochiltree, Roberts, Gray, Wheeler, and Deaf Smith. The sand sagebrush plains and shinnery oak grasslands in this part of the state offer prime habitat.
New Mexico
Only a small population of lesser prairie-chickens remains in New Mexico, found in the southeastern corner of the state near the Texas border. They mainly inhabit sand sagebrush shrublands near Milnesand.
Historical Range
The current fragmented range of the lesser prairie-chicken represents a small fraction of its historical range prior to European settlement. It has experienced one of the most dramatic reductions in range of any prairie grouse species.
The lesser prairie-chicken’s historical range encompassed around 90 million acres prior to 1800. It extended across much of the Great Plains from Nebraska and Kansas southward through Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and southeastern Colorado.
Major factors leading to the loss and fragmentation of its range include:
- Widespread conversion of native grasslands to cropland agriculture
- Livestock overgrazing
- Petroleum and natural gas development
- Drought and grassland fires
- Woody plant invasion of open grasslands
This massive decline highlights the need for continued conservation efforts to protect remaining habitat and populations. Reintroductions have attempted to reestablish lesser prairie-chickens in parts of their historical range in recent years, with mixed success.
Habitat
Lesser prairie-chickens are a species highly adapted and restricted to specific native grassland habitats. Their range closely aligns with these habitats. They prefer areas dominated by grasses of moderate height, shrub cover, and open visibility. Main habitat types include:
Sand Sagebrush Prairie
Found mainly in western Oklahoma, Texas Panhandle, and southeastern New Mexico. Dominated by sand sagebrush and grasses like prairie sandreed, blue grama, and sand dropseed. Sandy soils.
Shortgrass Prairie
Parts of southeastern Colorado, southwestern Kansas, and northeastern New Mexico. Dominated by blue grama and buffalo grass. Gravelly and sandy loam soils.
Shinnery Oak Grasslands
Southwest Kansas and Oklahoma Panhandle. Grasslands interspersed with shinnery oak thickets. Sandy soils.
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Lands
Midgrass plantings on retired/restored farmlands. Provides habitat in parts of range.
Lesser prairie-chickens avoid areas with tall vegetation or too much woody cover. They also need adjacent undisturbed areas for their leks or breeding displays. Maintaining their preferred native grassland habitats is key for conservation.
Population Status
Historically, lesser prairie-chicken numbers likely ranged between 1-2 million prior to European settlement. However, habitat loss caused drastic population declines through the late 1800s and early 1900s. By the 1960s, total populations dropped below 50,000.
In 2015, the first range-wide aerial survey estimated the total lesser prairie-chicken population at only 30,600. The 2016 survey indicated a further 12% drop to around 27,000 birds range-wide. Numbers fluctuate annually but remain precariously low.
Population densities are highest in Kansas and Colorado, followed by Oklahoma and New Mexico. The Texas population is extremely small and declining. Without active conservation, biologists estimate the lesser prairie-chicken could be extinct range-wide by 2050 or earlier.
State Population Estimates
State | Estimated Population |
---|---|
Kansas | 17,816 (2016 estimate) |
Colorado | 5,121 (2016 estimate) |
Oklahoma | 1,386 (2016 estimate) |
New Mexico | 1,779 (2015 estimate) |
Texas | 363 (2016 estimate) |
Threats and Conservation
While habitat loss was the major factor in initial declines, lesser prairie-chickens face a suite of threats to persisting populations:
Habitat Loss
Remaining grasslands continue to be lost to crop conversion, oil and gas development, wind energy infrastructure, and woody plant encroachment. Habitat patches become smaller and more isolated.
Grazing Pressure
Both overgrazing and lack of grazing can negatively impact habitat quality for lesser prairie-chickens. Managing grazing appropriately for the birds’ needs is challenging but important.
Extreme Weather
Drought, severe winters, and rain events during nesting season can impact reproductive success and survival. Climate change may exacerbate weather effects.
Predators and Disease
Nest and chick loss to mammalian and avian predators can be high in fragmented landscapes with little cover. West Nile Virus has also caused mortality.
Conservation efforts center around habitat protections, management, restoration, and partnerships with landowners:
- Protected lands like national grasslands and wildlife refuges
- Voluntary incentive programs for private lands like CRP
- Working with energy companies to limit development in key habitat
- Tree removal and prescribed fire to maintain open grasslands
- Careful grazing management for the birds’ needs
Translocations have also moved birds to bolster small populations and reestablish new ones in historically occupied areas in recent years. However, habitat protection remains most critical for the lesser prairie-chicken’s survival.
Conclusion
The lesser prairie-chicken now occupies only a tiny fraction of its historical range in the Great Plains grasslands of the central United States. Habitat loss and fragmentation have caused ongoing population declines, leading to the birds being listed as threatened. Remaining birds are found mainly in Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. Conserving remaining native grasslands and sagebrush shrublands is essential for the lesser prairie-chicken’s survival. Restoration of additional habitat can aid in reconnecting isolated populations. Multiple partners from government agencies to energy companies to private landowners must collaborate for conservation success. If trends continue, this iconic prairie grouse could vanish in the coming decades.