Sharp-tailed Grouse
(Tympanuchus phasianellus)

Summary

Picture of bird
© Christian Artuso
For additional photos and vocalizations, visit Dendroica. (Link opens in a new window.)

The Sharp-tailed Grouse is found in grasslands and open woodlands from the Great Lakes west to the Yukon (Connelly et al. 1998). It has disappeared from much of the southern portion of its range in the United States, but is still found throughout most of its historic range in Canada (Connelly et al. 1998). The species is best monitored in Canada by the Breeding Bird Survey and the Christmas Bird Count, both of which suggest little overall change in population since about 1970. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.

Designations

Listing of the main designations for the species
DesignationStatusDateSubspecies, population
IUCN (Global)Least Concern2012 
Partners in Flight (North America)Stewardship List2012 
Wild Species (Canada)Secure2010 
Bird Conservation Region StrategyPriority Species2013 

Population status

Geographic areaStatusReliability
CanadaLittle ChangeMedium
 

Population estimate

Canada50,000 to 500,000 adults
 

Distribution maps

 

Migration strategy, occurrence

Resident

Responsibility for conservation of world population

CanadaModerate

Conservation and management

Sharp-tailed Grouse are hunted throughout most of their range; harvest rates can have significant effects on spring populations in some years (Connelly et al. 1998). Northern populations use early-successional habitats created by fire and logging (Connelly et al. 1998, Leupin 2003, Barrette 1996). Attempts to introduce the species into southern Ontario have been unsuccessful (Escott 2007). Male Sharp-tailed Grouse display in early spring at sites called leks, which are an important component of habitat requirements of the species (Connelly et al. 1998). Disturbance at leks and loss of lek habitat may result in regional population declines (Niemuth 2011, Baydack et Hein 1987).

 

Bird conservation region strategies

Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:

  • conservation concerns (i.e., species vulnerable due to population size, distribution, population trend, abundance, or threats)
  • stewardship responsibilities (i.e., species that typify the regional avifauna or have a large proportion of their range or population in the sub-region)
  • management concerns (i.e., species that require ongoing management because of their socio-economic importance as game species, or because of their impacts on other species or habitats)
  • other concerns (i.e., species deemed a priority by regional experts for other reasons than those listed above or because they are listed as species at risk or concern at the provincial level)

Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.

BCRs, marine biogeographic units, and sub-regions in which the species is listed as a priority
RegionSub-region and priority type
Boreal Taiga PlainsBoreal Taiga Plains, sub-region and priority type: Prairie and Northern Region
Great BasinGreat Basin, sub-region and priority type: Pacific and Yukon Region
Northern RockiesNorthern Rockies, sub-region and priority type: Pacific and Yukon Region
Prairie PotholesPrairie Potholes, sub-region and priority type: Prairie and Northern Region
 

References