The Columbian sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus) is the smallest subspecies of the sharp-tailed grouse with a historic range from Canada to the northwestern United States. They can be found in a variety of habitats, from prairies to boral bogs, though require dense shrubs for shelter and food (Cornell Lab of Ornithology, n.d.). In Washington, they are found in grasslands and shrub-steppe habitats (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, n.d.).

“Birds are an ecological litmus paper.”

-Roger Tory Peterson

Description

Male and female Columbian sharp-tailed grouse are medium-sized, round-bodied birds with short tails ending in pointed white feathers. Males display distinctively brighter plumage with vibrant purple air sacs on their necks, visible during courtship displays, along with a distinct yellow comb above the eyes. Females are more muted in color, with a finely barred brown and white pattern that provides effective camouflage.

	Male	Female
Weight	1.4-1.6 lbs (620-740 g)	1.1-1.5 lbs (500-660 g)
Length	16-19 in (41-48 cm)	15-17 in (38-43 cm)
Wingspan	23-25 in (58-63 cm)	22-24 in (55-60 cm)

Status

The Columbian sharp-tailed grouse is considered endangered in Washington, with their population fewer than 1,000 birds. Their current range is less than five-percent of their historical range, with seven populations in Washington in Douglas, Lincoln, and Okanogan counties (WDFW, n.d.). Fragmentation, degradation and loss of habitats are the main cause of decline, as well as pesticide use (Cornell Lab of Ornithology, n.d.).

*subspecies not listed in IUCN

***** Status References: WA State: WDFW North America: NatureServe Global: IUCN Red List *****

Conservation

The sharp-tailed grouse has benefitted from the Conservation Reserve Program, a U.S. Department of Agriculture sponsored program that planted grasses and forbs throughout the United States, which increased nesting and brood-rearing habitat (Cornell Lab of Ornithology, n.d.). Though sharp-tailed grouse populations have increased since 1970 (Cornell Lab of Ornithology, n.d.), Columbian sharp-tailed grouse populations are limited in their recovery due to shortages of habitat (WDFW, n.d.).

Nature Art

Audubon’s Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus audubonii) from The Birds of America, Plate CCCLXXXII (left image below) captures the bird’s distinctive plumage with intricate detail. The setting features the grouse in a dynamic pose amidst its natural habitat. Smith’s Columbian Sharp-tailed grouse (right image below) depicts a male and female on a snow-covered shrub-steppe field, as we would see here in Washington.

Cover photo credit: Sharp tailed Grouse (Bohn/USFWS, 2016)

References

Click here to view all of the references used for this post

Audubon, John James. (1837) The Birds of America, Plate CCCLXXXII; Sharp-tailed Grouse
[photograph of colored engraving]. Public domain. Retrieved September , 28, 2024, from https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.32523.html

Bohn, R. / USFWS (2016). Sharp-tailed grouse [Photograph]. Public Domain. Retrieved September 28, 2024, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sharp-Tailed_Grouse_%2825842987340%29.jpg

Columbian Sharp-tailed grouse. Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. (n.d.). Retrieved October 15, 2024, from https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/tympanuchus-phasianellus-columbianus

Hoffman, R. USFS (2007). Columbian sharp-tailed grouse (male) [Photograph]. Public Domain. Retrieved September 28, 2024, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Columbian_Sharp-tailed_Grouse_%28male%29.png#file

IUCN. (2017). Tympanuchus phasianellus (Sharp-tailed Grouse). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T22679511A138099395. Retrieved September 28, 2024, from https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22679511/138099395

NatureServe. (2023). Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus (Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse). Retrieved September 28, 2024, from https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104539/Tympanuchus_phasianellus_columbianus

Schmierer (2016). Sharp-tailed Grouse. [photograph]. CC1.0 Retrieved September 28, 2024, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sharp-tailed_Grouse_%282%29.jpg

Sharp-tailed grouse life history, all about birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (n.d.-b). Retrieved October 15, 2024, from https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sharp-tailed_Grouse/lifehistory

Sibley, D. (2003). The Sibley field guide to birds of Western North America. First edition. New York, Alfred A. Knopf.

Smith, I. (2025). Columbia Sharp-tailed Grouse. [photograph of painting]. With permission.