Sharp-Tailed Grouse Recovery Effort

Have you seen Sharp-tailed Grouse in our grasslands?

If so, then we’d like to hear from you.

One of the objectives of the Sharp-tailed Grouse Stewardship Program is to obtain as much information about the current and historical distribution of sharptails in the Thompson-Nicola region. We are particularly interested in the location of traditional dancing grounds (leks). This information will enable us to pinpoint areas where management needs are greatest.

If you have seen Sharp-tailed Grouse or know of any dancing ground locations, please send an email to us at gcc@bcgrasslands.org.

How do you distinguish Sharptails from other grouse species?

Sharptails are often confused with other upland game species because they sometimes share similar habitats. Species that share habitats with Sharp-tailed Grouse are Ruffed Grouse, Blue grouse, and Chukar. The result is that they are often mistakenly shot by hunters. Hunting has not been identified as a factor responsible for the decline of sharptails, but it can have significant impacts in areas where sharptails occur in very low numbers.

Sharp-tails can be distinguished from other upland game birds through behavior and their plumage:

When flushed, Sharptails will cluck and defecate as they fly away
Sharptails are generally a brownish-gray color, much lighter than other grouse
When in flight, the short pointed tail with white on its side becomes evident. Other grouse have longer blunt-rounded tails.