noun
or prairie fowl or prairie grouse
1.
a. : a grouse ( Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus ) of the Mississippi valley from Manitoba to Texas having the upper part streaked and spotted with rufous and black and the underparts white evenly barred with blackish and on each side of the neck a patch of bare inflatable skin — called also greater prairie chicken
b. : a smaller similar bird ( T. pallidicinctus ) of western Texas — called also lesser prairie chicken ; compare heath hen
2. : sharp-tailed grouse
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