Grouse are a family of medium-sized birds in the order Galliformes. There are 18 species of grouse worldwide, including ruffed grouse, sage grouse, prairie chicken, ptarmigan and sharp-tailed grouse. Grouse are ground-nesting birds known for their elaborate courting displays by males to attract females during breeding season. They inhabit open grasslands, sagebrush flats, forest edges and alpine tundra. Grouse are an important gamebird pursued by hunters across North America.
Several species of grouse live in the western United States, but their range only extends into the Texas Panhandle region in the northern part of the state. The grouse species found in Texas are Lesser Prairie Chicken, Greater Prairie Chicken and Sharp-tailed Grouse. Populations of prairie chickens in Texas have declined dramatically over the last century due to habitat loss. Sharp-tailed Grouse populations remain more stable. Ruffed, Spruce and Sage grouse do not occur naturally in Texas.
Grouse Species in Texas
Lesser Prairie Chicken
The Lesser Prairie Chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) is a species of grouse endemic to the southern Great Plains of North America. It ranges across southeastern Colorado, western Kansas, eastern New Mexico, western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle. These birds prefer open native prairies and shrublands dominated by grasses, forbs and sand sagebrush.
Lesser Prairie Chickens engage in an elaborate mating ritual each spring called “booming.” Males gather at communal breeding grounds called leks and perform courtship displays with their specialized feathers, vocalizations and postures. Males make a booming sound through inflated orange air sacs on their necks to attract females. Nesting occurs near the lek site. Hens lay around 12 eggs that hatch after 23-24 days of incubation. Chicks fledge from the nest at 10-12 days old.
This species was once abundant across the shortgrass and mixed grass prairies. But conversion of prairie to cropland has caused Lesser Prairie Chicken numbers to decline by 97% since the 1800s. Population strongholds remain in Kansas and the northeast Texas Panhandle, but overall this is a highly vulnerable species. Conservation efforts focus on protecting intact prairies from fragmentation.
Greater Prairie Chicken
The Greater Prairie Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) is a large, stocky grouse species also native to tallgrass and mixed grass prairies. Their historic range spanned central North America from Canada south to Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. They have brown plumage barred with black and white, and a short rounded tail. Males have yellow-orange air sacs on the neck and long feathers on the head used in courtship displays.
Greater Prairie Chickens breed on communal lek sites with males performing displays, booming vocalizations and antagonistic behavior to compete for mates. Females build nests on the ground and raise one brood per year. Chicks are precocial and leave the nest shortly after hatching to feed themselves.
Habitat loss has caused Greater Prairie Chickens to disappear from much of their native range. Once hunted to near extinction, they now only occupy about 20% of their former habitat. Small populations persist in northeastern Texas, but most of the state’s native prairie is no longer suitable. Conservation of remaining prairie fragments will be important for the future of this species in Texas.
Sharp-tailed Grouse
The Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) inhabits more northerly grasslands and boreal forests compared to other grouse species in Texas. They are found in the northeastern Panhandle and formerly occurred in north central Texas.
These medium-sized grouse have cryptically colored brown and white plumage. Distinctive pointed tails give the birds their common name. In spring, males congregate on leks and make bubbling sounds to attract females during elaborate displays. Hens nest on the ground, often under shrubs or tall grass. Newly hatched chicks leave the nest shortly after hatching.
Sharp-tailed Grouse forage on seeds, berries, buds, insects and leaves. They roost in protected sites like brushy draws or snow burrows during winter.
This species remains relatively common in parts of its northern range, including some areas of the Texas Panhandle like Rita Blanca National Grassland. But their southerly population declined during the 20th century due to overgrazing, fire suppression and cultivation of native prairie. Conservation of prairie habitats will benefit this species.
Grouse Habitat in Texas
Grouse rely on large expanses of open grassland and prairie habitat. They avoid forests and urban areas. Specific vegetation communities used by grouse include:
– Shortgrass prairie – Dominated by short grasses like blue grama and buffalograss. Home to Lesser Prairie Chickens.
– Mixed grass prairie – Characterized by taller grasses including little bluestem, side-oats grama and western wheatgrass. Used by Greater Prairie Chickens.
– Shrublands – Areas with sagebrush and other shrubs amid prairie provide food and cover. Sharp-tailed Grouse use brushy draws.
– Wetlands – Small seasonal wetlands offer a source of insects and greens for chicks.
– Grain fields – Crops like wheat, milo or corn near prairie offer supplemental food in fall and winter. But fields should not replace native habitat.
Grouse need large, interconnected expanses of prairie to support healthy populations. Fragmentation by roads, fences, oil pads and other developments degrades habitat quality. Ranchlands grazed at moderate intensities can support grouse. But overgrazing removes needed grass cover.
Key Habitat Areas
Most remaining grouse habitat is found in the northeastern Texas Panhandle. Key sites include:
– Rita Blanca National Grassland – Over 90,000 acres of publicly owned shortgrass prairie. Managed by US Forest Service. Stronghold for Lesser Prairie Chickens.
– Black Kettle National Grassland – 30,000 acre grassland preserve in Hemphill County. Habitat for Sharp-tailed Grouse leks.
– Matador Wildlife Management Area – Lesser Prairie Chicken habitat restored on this former ranch. Owned by The Nature Conservancy.
– Private ranchlands – Large intact ranches also provide habitat across the Panhandle and in areas like Cottle County. Landowner involvement in conservation is important.
Grouse Conservation
All three grouse species in Texas have experienced substantial population declines and range contractions. Ongoing conservation actions are needed to protect these vulnerable birds and restore viable populations. Efforts include:
– Habitat protection – Securing large tracts of prairie through acquisition, conservation easements or agreements with ranchers. Prevents conversion to cropland.
– Habitat restoration – Methods like prescribed fire, brush management and rest periods from grazing that improve range conditions for grouse.
– Population monitoring – Annual lek surveys track trends in grouse numbers and distribution. Guides habitat management.
– Reducing collisions – Marking fences reduces crashes. Placing lek sites off-limits to wind turbines prevents disturbance and mortality.
– Captive breeding – Raising grouse in captivity to augment small wild populations and maintain genetic health. Releases boost numbers.
– Public education – Communicating grouse conservation needs and sustainable grazing practices to landowners and the public.
Partnerships
Grouse conservation requires collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, landowners and industry. Key partners include:
– Texas Parks & Wildlife Department – Manages grouse habitat on WMAs, conducts research and population surveys.
– U.S. Forest Service – Manages habitat on national grasslands. Partners on lek surveys.
– Playa Lakes Joint Venture – Supports partnerships and habitat conservation under bird conservation plan.
– The Nature Conservancy – Works to protect prairies and restore habitat on preserves.
– Natural Resources Conservation Service – Provides incentives to landowners through Farm Bill programs.
– North American Grouse Partnership – Strives to maintain viable grouse populations through partnerships.
– Local landowners – Participate in conservation programs and sustainable grazing practices that benefit grouse.
Grouse Hunting in Texas
At one time, prairie grouse were a popular game bird harvested by hunters across much of Texas. Unregulated hunting contributed to early declines along with habitat loss. Today, regulated limited hunting opportunities exist for two species in the Panhandle.
Greater Prairie Chicken
Greater Prairie Chickens were hunted year-round in the late 1800s and early 1900s, contributing to severe declines. Texas closed the season in 1937. In 2000, a tightly controlled season was re-opened in three Panhandle counties.
Key regulations include:
– Limited to Cottle, Hemphill and Wheeler counties
– Only open during the first three weekends of April
– Bag limit of one bird per day
– Hunters must apply for limited drawing permits
This conservative season provides recreation without hampering conservation efforts for Greater Prairie Chickens. Permits are only issued if populations can sustain limited harvest.
Sharp-tailed Grouse
The status of Sharp-tailed Grouse allowed for a cautious hunting season to resume in 2014 in five northeast Panhandle counties. Regulations include:
– Open in Dallam, Hansford, Hartley, Hemphill and Lipscomb counties
– Season runs November – January
– Daily bag limit of 2 birds
– Annual statewide limit of 4 birds
Hunting is only opened if spring lek surveys indicate adequate Sharp-tailed Grouse numbers to support harvest. Revenue from permit sales helps fund habitat conservation.
Conclusion
The grasslands of northeastern Texas once supported abundant populations of diverse grouse species. But loss and fragmentation of prairie habitat caused widespread declines over the past 150 years.
Today, three grouse species still inhabit portions of the Texas Panhandle at much lower densities: Lesser Prairie Chicken, Greater Prairie Chicken and Sharp-tailed Grouse. Ongoing conservation efforts focus on protecting and managing remaining intact prairies to support viable grouse populations into the future. Sustainable grazing, prescribed fire and private landowner involvement are key.
Limited regulated hunting has returned for two species as their numbers allow. Careful monitoring ensures hunting is sustainable. Conservation partnerships play an important role in maintaining habitat and increasing awareness of grouse as iconic symbols of the vanishing North American prairies.
