Upland and Game Birds

Sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus)

Votes: 34

Photo illustration: Canadian Geographic; Photo: Gerry Tuchodi / Wikicommons

A medium-sized, chicken-like bird found in grasslands, prairie brush, farmlands, woodland edges and bogs across Canada (west of Quebec). The sharp-tailed grouse is spotted brown and white, with a short crest and pale orange eyecomb, a pointed, white-edged tail and long, rounded wings.

*Provincial bird of Saskatchewan

IDENTIFICATION (Both Sexes)
Weight	0.6-1.0 kg
Length	41-47 cm
Wingspan	53-64 cm

Range map courtesy iBird for Windows
Click to enlarge

Vote for the Sharp-tailed grouse for Canada’s National Bird

Essays

Comments and essays appear in the language in which they were submitted

A wonderful bird. Can fool you to the closest distance. Nearly camouflaged to perfection. Lets you know when you are in her/his space. A forest favourite.

— Submitted on Sunday, February 7, 2016 by bryan cassidy (almonte, ON)

GROUSE is one of the finest game birds in this beautiful country we live in, as well as the finest eating game bird. The government makes a lot of revenue selling license for this bird each year, it should be our country's bird.

— Submitted on Monday, February 23, 2015 by Robert Bartlett (Riley Brook, NB)

My vote is for a sharpie due to the fact the they are experiencing stress due to reductions in their breeding sites and awareness of this bird would help with this predicament. They also do not migrate and are here year round.

— Submitted on Wednesday, January 28, 2015 by Elana Kemp (High Prairie, AB)

I love grouse and the're intelligent.

— Submitted on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 by Alexander Maddock (ottawa, ON)

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