Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) [XC186665]
by from Old Post No. 43 (near Fir Mountain), Division No. 3, Saskatchewan, Canada (lek display)
Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) [XC48173]
by Richard E. Webster from Hayden, CO, about 15 km N, United States (display at lek)
Subspecies
Hybridizes extensively with Greater Prairie-chicken (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.
The following 7 subspecies are recognised:
caurus (Friedmann, 1943) - Alaska to southern Yukon, northern British Columbia and northern Alberta.
campestris (Ridgway, 1884) - Southern Manitoba and southern Ontario to Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan; formerly to northern Illinois.
jamesi (Lincoln, 1917) - North-central Alberta and central Saskatchewan south to Wyoming and Nebraska; formerly to Kansas.
columbianus (Ord, 1815) - North-central British Columbia south to northern Utah and western Colorado; formerly to northern New Mexico (perhaps jamesi).
hueyi Dickerman & Hubbard, 1994 - New Mexico (USA).