Grouse (Tetraonidae)

Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) - HBW 2, p. 409

French: Tétras à queue fine German: Schweifhuhn Spanish: Gallo de las Praderas Rabudo

Taxonomy: Tetrao Phasianellus Linnaeus, 1758, Canada = Hudson Bay.
Formerly placed in genus Pedioecetes. Hybridizes extensively with Tympanuchus cupido where ranges overlap, with both hybrids and backcrosses apparently fertile; hybrids can constitute 0·3 1·2% of combined population in Nebraska, and up to 5 25% on Manitoulin I, Ontario, where contact of these species is recent. Six subspecies currently recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

caurus (Friedmann, 1943) - Alaska to S Yukon, N British Columbia and N Alberta.
kennicotti (Suckley, 1861) - Mackenzie.
phasianellus (Linnaeus, 1758) - N Manitoba, N Ontario and WC Quebec.

See all 6 subspecies

caurus (Friedmann, 1943) - Alaska to S Yukon, N British Columbia and N Alberta.
kennicotti (Suckley, 1861) - Mackenzie.
phasianellus (Linnaeus, 1758) - N Manitoba, N Ontario and WC Quebec.
campestris (Ridgway, 1884) - S Manitoba and S Ontario to Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan; formerly to N Illinois.
jamesi (Lincoln, 1917) - NC Alberta and C Saskatchewan S to Wyoming and Nebraska; formerly to Kansas.
columbianus (Ord, 1815) - NC British Columbia S to N Utah and W Colorado; formerly to N New Mexico (perhaps jamesi).