ATTWATER'S GREATER PRAIRIE CHICKEN 



Tympanuchus cupido attwateri Bendire 



KINGDOM Animalia 



CLASS Aves 



ORDER Galliformes 



FAMILY Tetraonidae 



OTHER COMMON 



NAMES Attwater's prairie chicken 



greater prairie chicken, heath hen 



DATE: 



Entered into SWIS to be determined 



Update 1 August 1978 



LEGAL STATUS 



Federal: Endangered (32 FR 4001, 11 March 

 1967) 



States: Endangered: Texas 



REASONS FOR CURRENT STATUS 



Conversion of natural tall grass prairie to agri- 

 cultural lands for soybeans, grain, sorghum, rice, 

 and cotton has eliminated extensive amounts of 

 habitat. Commercial development and urban 

 sprawl have contributed to the loss of habitat 

 while overgrazing and oil development have re- 

 duced habitat quality (Lehmann and Mauermann 

 1963, W. Shifflett personal communication). 



The Attwater's prairie chicken was formerly 

 killed in great numbers for target practice and 

 sport (Lehmann 1941). 



PRIORITY INDEX 



Not assigned. 



DESCRIPTION 



Prairie chickens are large, hen-like birds; males 

 weigh almost 1 kg, and females 0.75 kg. They are 

 brovm barred with black above, buffy barred with 



