Illustration of prairie chicken
prairie chicken
noun
: a grouse (Tympanuchus cupido) chiefly of the tallgrass prairies of the central U.S. with the male having yellowish-orange neck sacs which are inflated during courtship displays
also
: a closely related smaller grouse (T. pallidicinctus) having reddish neck sacs
Examples of prairie chicken in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Strapped by budget and personnel shortages, the DNR missed goals set in the state's 2004-14 prairie chicken plan.
—
Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 23 June 2022
Late last month the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) proposed a regulation to list the lesser prairie chicken as either threatened or endangered, depending on the region.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 22 June 2021
After decades of advocacy from environmental groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this week named the lesser prairie chicken as an endangered species.
—Edward McKinley, San Antonio Express-News, 28 Mar. 2023
Republicans say protections for the lesser prairie chicken interfere with U.S. oil and gas production and jeopardize thousands of American jobs.
—Matthew Daly, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2023
But with a couple of Democratic defections, the Senate voted narrowly this spring to undo protections for a rare grouse known as the lesser prairie chicken as well as the northern long-eared bat.
—John Flesher, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Aug. 2023
But Congress voted this year to undo protections for a rare grouse known as the lesser prairie chicken as well as the northern long-eared bat.
—John Flesher, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2023
The measures, brought under the Congressional Review Act, were passed in a 221-206 vote for the lesser prairie chicken and a 220–209 vote for the northern long-eared bat.
—Nancy Vu, Washington Examiner, 27 July 2023
The lesser prairie chicken’s range covers a portion of the oil-rich Permian Basin along the New Mexico-Texas state line and extends into parts of Colorado, Oklahoma and Kansas.
—Matthew Daly, ajc, 3 May 2023
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Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 23 June 2022
Late last month the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) proposed a regulation to list the lesser prairie chicken as either threatened or endangered, depending on the region.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 22 June 2021
After decades of advocacy from environmental groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this week named the lesser prairie chicken as an endangered species.
—Edward McKinley, San Antonio Express-News, 28 Mar. 2023
Republicans say protections for the lesser prairie chicken interfere with U.S. oil and gas production and jeopardize thousands of American jobs.
—Matthew Daly, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2023
But with a couple of Democratic defections, the Senate voted narrowly this spring to undo protections for a rare grouse known as the lesser prairie chicken as well as the northern long-eared bat.
—John Flesher, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Aug. 2023
But Congress voted this year to undo protections for a rare grouse known as the lesser prairie chicken as well as the northern long-eared bat.
—John Flesher, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2023
The measures, brought under the Congressional Review Act, were passed in a 221-206 vote for the lesser prairie chicken and a 220–209 vote for the northern long-eared bat.
—Nancy Vu, Washington Examiner, 27 July 2023
The lesser prairie chicken’s range covers a portion of the oil-rich Permian Basin along the New Mexico-Texas state line and extends into parts of Colorado, Oklahoma and Kansas.
—Matthew Daly, ajc, 3 May 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prairie chicken.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1832, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near prairie chicken
Cite this Entry
“Prairie chicken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prairie%20chicken. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
prairie chicken
noun
: a grouse of the prairies of the central U.S. with the males having a patch of bare skin on either side of the neck which is inflated with air during courtship displays
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