Bird
Prairie sharp-tailed grouse
Tympanuchus phasianellus jamesi
Photo: Wikimedia Commons via Wikipedia
Habitat
West of James River
Conservation
Apparently secure
First Observed
1804-09-12
Clark noted sharp-tailed grouse occurred only west of the James River. Plains subspecies vulnerable to habitat loss.
In the NPS atlas of species the expedition described
Prairie sharp-tailed grouse
Clark noted sharp-tailed grouse occurred only west of the James River. Plains subspecies vulnerable to habitat loss.
Source: National Park Service, Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Park Atlas.
Recent sightings
Where it’s being seen today
1 research-grade iNaturalist observation between 2025–2025. Most recent: 2025-10-01. Sourced from Terrain360 trail captures, cached locally.
Journal References
15 journal entries mention Prairie sharp-tailed grouse
Apr
12
1805
Clark: April 12, 1805
...umeing the Short grey, I Saw the
Magpie in pars, flocks of Grouse, the old field lark & Crows, &
observed the leaf of the wild Chery half grown, many flowers are to...
Apr
15
1805
Lewis: April 15, 1805
...they were remarkably shy.
I also met with great numbers of Grouse or prarie hens as they are called
by the English traders of the N. W. these birds appeared to be m...
Sep
10
1805
Clark: September 10, 1805
...only large game to be found they killed 4 deer a Beaver & 3 Grouse
which was divided, one of the hunters Colter, met with 3 Tushapaw Indians
who were in pursuit of ...
Oct
17
1805
Clark: October 17, 1805
...h there
was 20 Indians I shot a large Prairie Cock Several Grouse, Ducks and fish.
on my return found Great Numbr. of the nativs with Capt Lewis, men all
employd i...
Oct
26
1805
Clark: October 26, 1805
...ing
Killed five Deer, four verry large grey Squirels and a grouse. one of the
guard at the river guiged a Salmon Trout, which we had fried in a little
Bears Oil wh...
Oct
27
1805
Clark: October 27, 1805
...ty. Sent
out Several hunters who brought in four Deer, one Grouse & a Squirel.
The two Chiefs & party was joined by Seven others from below in two
canoes, we gave ...
Nov
5
1805
Clark: November 5, 1805
...nly In my walk of to Day I saw 17 Striped Snakes I killed a grouse which
was verry fat, and larger than Common. This is the first night which we
have been entirely ...
Mar
1
1806
Clark: March 1, 1806
...and fowls of the water.
The Prarie Hen sometimes called the Grouse is peculiarly the inhabitent of
the Great Plains of Columbia. they do not differ from those of the...
Mar
1
1806
Lewis: March 1, 1806
...from the habits of the birds, Terrestrial
and Aquatic.
The Grouse or Prarie hen is peculiarly the inhabitant of the Grait Plains
of Columbia they do not differ from...
Mar
2
1806
Clark: March 2, 1806
...o
the motion of the wings is much that of the Pheasant and Grouse. they have
four toes on each foot of which the hinder one is Short. the leg is
covered with feath...
Mar
2
1806
Lewis: March 2, 1806
...o the motion
of the wings is much that of the pheasant and Grouse. they have four toes
on each foot of which the hinder one is short. the leg is covered with
feath...
May
6
1806
Nez Perce camps, reuniting with horses — John Ordway: May 6, 1806
...Staked
up the war axes these Indians have they got from the Grouse-
vauntares on the Missourie & they got them from us at the Man-
dans, about noon we Set out proceed...
May
15
1806
Camp Chopunnish (Long Camp), waiting for snow to melt — Patrick Gass: May 15, 1806
... two of our hunters came in and had
killed nothing but some grouse; four more continued out.
May
18
1806
Camp Chopunnish (Long Camp), waiting for snow to melt — Patrick Gass: May 18, 1806
...ening four hunters came in and
had killed nothing, but some grouse.
Jul
28
1806
Lewis/Clark descending Missouri/Yellowstone to reunion — John Ordway: July 28, 1806
...r return the
day before yesterday and met with eight of the Grousevauntares
Indians with bows & arrows and 2 guns, they at first appeared
afraid but after a little wr...
