tiz-aves:[Species] | Sharp-tailed GrouseThe sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) sometimes

tiz-aves:[Species] | Sharp-tailed GrouseThe sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) sometimes referred to as fire grouse or simply sharptail is a medium-sized member of the Phasanidae family. It has a relatively short tail, plumage that is mottled dark and light brown against a white background and lighte, partially white underparts. In order to walk on snow without crashing through the surface, the sharp-tailed grouse has evolved fleshy projections on its toes which are called pectinae. They are there to distribute the weight of an individual, allowing it to walk more comfortably.The habitats that sharp-tailed grouses occur in differ greatly from one another and can include just about anything from northern prairies to boreal bogs. Wherever it can be found, areas of dense shrubs provide shelter and food. They prefer open habitats like grasslands in the summer, and move to wooded areas in the winter.For most of the year, sharp-tailed grouses have a largely vegetarian diet that includes mostly seeds, buds and leaves. Most of the insects that they do consume are taken by young birds, and that happens mostly in the summer.Sharp-tailed grouses are lekking birds. A lek is an assembly area where animals carry on display and courtship behaviour, trying to attract a mate. With sharp-tailed grouses 8 to 12 males (on average) occupy a lek at once and try winning over females.Although they have declined greatly in numbers since Europeans invaded and destroyed the Americas, they continue to have a fairly large range, in much of which they are common. This why the IUCN determines them to be a species of least concern. Their population is possibly still declining, but not fast enough to make them a Vulnerable species.Photo credits: Anne Elliott, Brian Zwiebel -- source link
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