Return of the Greater Prairie-Chicken

Greater prairie-chickens are birds of wide-open prairie. They rely on tall grasses to hide their nests, shorter grasses to stay aware of predators, and wildflowers that support the insects their chicks need. These habitats form naturally where fire, grazing and weather shape the land, and in places where that prairie character remains, the birds continue to thrive.

This connection between bird and habitat is what makes their story in Missouri so significant. Missouri once held vast prairies, and greater prairie-chickens were a familiar part of those ecosystems.

As tallgrass prairie was plowed for cropland and divided by fences and roads, the structure of the landscape changed. Habitat patches grew smaller and more isolated, leaving little room for a species that depends on large, connected grasslands. Over time, the birds declined sharply. By 2012, only three prairie-chickens were known to remain in the state.

Restoration work at Dunn Ranch had been underway long before the first prairie-chickens returned to the area. TNC invested years in planting diverse native seed mixes, reestablishing fire through prescribed burns and removing invasive woody plants that encroach on open grasslands. These efforts helped rebuild the structure and diversity of the historic prairie, creating nesting cover, brood-rearing habitat and open spaces for leks. By the time reintroduction became necessary, Dunn Ranch Prairie had the ecological foundation the birds required.

Bison play an important role in creating the habitat that prairie-chickens rely on at Dunn Ranch. Unlike cattle, which tend to graze evenly across a pasture, bison move in a more variable pattern. They graze intensively in small areas, creating short “grazing lawns,” then travel long distances before feeding again. This roaming behavior produces a natural patchwork of short, medium and tall vegetation across the prairie. For prairie-chickens, this mosaic is especially valuable. Short, open patches provide ideal sites for booming, while nearby taller grasses offer protective cover. Mixed-height vegetation throughout the prairie creates warm, insect-rich areas where chicks can feed. Because bison naturally maintain this variety, their reintroduction at Dunn Ranch was paired with prairie-chicken restoration to ensure both species could benefit from the same habitat conditions.

Today, Dunn Ranch supports one of the last remaining prairie-chicken populations in the state. The birds are still vulnerable, but the prairie’s restored structure and ongoing habitat management continue to provide the conditions needed for their survival.

Live from Dunn Ranch Prairie

Experience the magic of spring on the prairie with our Dunn Ranch livestream. Watch bison roam, birds return and wildflowers emerge—and if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of booming prairie-chickens displaying at dawn! This real‑time window into the prairie offers a peaceful, ever‑changing glimpse of one of Missouri’s most vibrant natural spaces.

Courtship on the Prairie

Greater prairie-chickens are best known for their elaborate mating rituals. Every spring, males gather together on traditional breeding grounds known as “leks” or “booming grounds” where each male defends a small territory.

Before sunrise, males begin to take their positions. What follows is a complex performance that is part vocalization, part dance and part show of strength. A male starts by raising the long, pointed feathers on the sides of his neck. These feathers frame the bright orange air sacs that inflate as he prepares to boom. With his wings lowered and tail feathers fanned, he fills the prairie with a deep, resonating call. The sound rolls across the grassland and can travel more than a mile in calm conditions.

The booming is only one part of the display. Males stamp their feet rapidly in a motion so fast it creates a blur in the early light. They pivot in half circles, rush toward rivals and sometimes leap into the air in brief confrontations that settle dominance on the lek. Each movement, sound and posture communicates strength and stamina. Females arrive quietly, often watching from the edges of the lek before selecting the males whose performances they find most compelling.

After mating, the females leave the lek to build nests in tall, undisturbed grasses nearby. The display continues for several weeks, with males returning daily to defend their small territories and repeat their booming performances. For many observers, the combination of sound, motion and the wide-open prairie setting makes the courtship display a defining experience of the tallgrass ecosystem.