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Distribution. Central North America from Canada south. Not an original inhabitant 
of Canada, but it has come in within historical times. It is now common throughout the 
prairies of Manitoba and is gradually spreading westward through Saskatchewan and 
Alberta. 
SUBSPECIES. The Northern Prairie Chicken Tympanuchus americanus americanus 
is the only form recognized in Canada. 
Considerable confusion accompanies the name of “Prairie Chicken”. 
This, however, is the bird to which the name applies correctly both his- 
torically and by habitat. It is a true bird of the open and not a brush 
species like the Sharp-tailed Grouse, which in Canada has largely usurped 
the title. It is a bird that, given fair protection, thrives near settlements, 
and evidently has followed the great grain fields northward. It is migra- 
tory and moves southward in the winter. In the spring it resorts to dance 
grounds such as a bare knoll or some similar spot of not very evident 
qualifications, but which is used for the purpose year after year and by 
generation after generation as though it had some special and unique 
attraction. The early morning is the time of activity and large numbers 
of birds gather and execute a most elaborate and interesting mating 
ritual. The male has, under the stiff plumes, large inflatable sacs on 
on each side of the neck, coloured bright orange and capable of enormous 
distention, swelling out like a small orange on either side of the throat. 
With these inflated, the stiff plumes over them spread finger-wise upwards 
and outwards, and the tail opened over the back, the bird struts and utters 
a succession of low, intense, hollow sounds that can be heard for miles. 
All spring and early summer this dull reverberating sound can be heard 
near its haunts, filling the air with a heavy throb but difficult of location as 
to direction or distance. The species is a good strong flyer, lies well to a 
dog, and is wary enough to satisfy exacting sportsmen. 
308. Sharp-tailed Grouse (Including Northern, Prairie, and Columbia Sharp- 
tailed Grouse). (Incorrectly prairie chicken.) Pedioecetes phasianellus. L, 17-50. 
Plate XXIII A. A large Grouse palely coloured in browns, ochre, and white, with many 
sharp, dark, V-marks on breast and flanks and with a soft, pointed, almost white tail. No par- 
ticular neck ornaments or plumes. 
Distinctions. The general lightness of colour ? short, sharp tail and distinct V-marks 
on breast are too characteristic to be confused with any other bird. Most like the true 
Prairie Chicken, the Pinnated Grouse, or Square-tail. The nearly white tail with upper 
coverts lengthened, projecting, and brought to a fine taper produce the effect of a sharply 
pointed tail; this, the profusion of sharp V-marks on breast and flanks, and the absence 
of any specially developed feather groups on the side of the neck are absolute distinctions 
from the dark, round tail, heavily barred breast, and stiff feather neck ornaments of the 
Prairie Chicken pioper. 
Field Marks. A light-coloured Grouse, sharp-tailed ; very light below, with many 
dark V-marks on breast and flanks and no special neck plumes or ornaments. 
Distribution. The more open spots in the spruce woods across the continent. In 
the west, south across the prairies and British Columbia to south of the International 
Boundary. 
SUBSPECIES. Several subspecies of Sharp-tailed are recognized. The Northern 
Sharp-tailed Pedioecetes phasianellus phasianellus, a slightly dark form, ranges across the 
north woods from New Quebec to Alaska. The Prairie Sharp-tailed Pedioecetes phasian- 
ellus campestris, a generally creamy-coloured bird, occupies the prairies and the Columbian 
Sharp-tailed Pedioecetes phasianellus columbianus, a slightly greyer bird, is the form of 
southern British Columbia. The boundaries between the northern and the southern forms 
have not been quite accurately defined. 
This is the Grouse of the Canadian prairies and in consequence, as 
stated under the previous species, has been consistently misnamed “Prairie 
Chicken,” a title already pre-empted by another species. The Sharp- 
