Tympanuchus

Tympanuchus is a small genus of medium-sized ground-dwelling birds in the grouse family (Phasianidae), native to North America. The genus comprises the prairie-chickens, which are known for their elaborate mating displays. The two widely recognized species are the greater prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) and the lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus). Attwater's prairie-chicken is commonly treated as a subspecies of the greater prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri), though some authorities classify it as a separate species or otherwise note unresolved status.

Males of Tympanuchus are larger than females and display ornate plumage with bright throat or neck air sacs that inflate during courtship. They gather on open-leafed grassland clearings called leks, where they drum, clap their wings, and vocalize to attract females. Females are smaller and more cryptically colored, prioritizing camouflage when nesting. Both sexes are adapted to ground life, using grasses and shrubs for shelter and nesting cover.

Habitat and range: Tympanuchus species favor tallgrass and mixed-grass prairies of central North America. Over time, their range has contracted due to agricultural development, habitat fragmentation, and changes in fire regimes. Attwater's prairie-chicken historically inhabited Texas coastal prairie and now remains restricted to a few small populations, with continued conservation concerns.

Diet: They primarily consume seeds, grasses, and forbs, with insects forming an important food source for chicks during early development.

Conservation: All taxa face habitat loss and fragmentation, with varying degrees of decline. Conservation efforts—habitat restoration and protection, prescribed burns, lek management, and some captive breeding and reintroduction—have yielded localized recoveries, though many populations remain threatened or endangered.