Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, commonly called "prairie chickens" by early Oregon residents, were abundant in the grasslands and foothills of Oregon east of the Cascade Mountains prior to the late 1800s but were considered extirpated from the state by the 1970s. Recent reintroduction programs give a glimmer of hope that sharp-tails may once again hold their own in northeast Oregon.

Males congregate on leks or dancing grounds in the spring and perform elaborate social displays. The Columbian sharp-tailed grouse is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species in the Blue Mountains ecoregion.

Hear the call of the Columbian sharp-tailed grouse

Photo by Mike Hanson