Greater Prairie-Chicken

Tympanuchus cupido

The population decline of Greater Prairie-Chickens reflects human modification of the landscape. Because they were associated with native prairies (Christisen 1985), Prairie-chickens were once numerous in Missouri. Their decline is related to the replacement of grasslands with croplands and widespread use of fescue (Festuca spp.) on remaining grasslands (Missouri Department of Conservation et al. 1991; Skinner et al. 1984). Native prairie once occupied 34 percent of Missouri but now occupies less than 0.5 percent (Schroeder and Robb 1993). Presumably the decline in prairie-chicken numbers has paralleled or exceeded the decline in native prairie acreage, especially because some remaining prairies are too small to support viable populations (Schroeder and Robb 1993).

Code Frequency

Greater Prairie-Chickens are easy to detect during spring courtship. In forty-three percent of blocks in which prairie-chickens were recorded, Atlasers observed courtship behavior, likely by viewing birds on a display ground. Even blocks in which possible evidence was recorded were likely true breeding areas as prairie-chickens do not migrate and rarely venture far from breeding areas. Because prairie-chickens are rare and clumped in a few areas of favorable habitat, Atlas Project sampling would be expected to miss many populations. Therefore, the map displays a conservative picture of prairie-chicken distribution in Missouri.

Distribution

All but three blocks with breeding evidence were in the Osage Plains, the last remaining foothold for this declining species. By chance, the Atlas Project detected outlying remnant populations in Audrain County and a recently-discovered population in the Missouri River bottoms in Carroll County. The Missouri Department of Conservation has carefully surveyed Prairie Chickens and can provide a more thorough picture of their range in Missouri.

Phenology

Courtship was first detected March 2 and extended beyond May 29. Nest initiation dates are variable, ranging from mid-April to early June (Schroeder and Robb 1993).

Breeding Evidence

Reported in 21 (1.7%) of 1,207 blocks

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