| 1. | either of two North American gallinaceous birds of western prairies, Tympanuchus cupido (greater prairie chicken), or T. pallidicinctus (lesser prairie chicken), having rufous, brown, black, and white plumage. |
| 2. | sharp-tailed grouse. |
| prairie chicken n. Either of two birds (Tympanuchus cupido or T. pallidicinctus) of the grouse family, found in western North America and having deep-chested bodies and mottled brownish plumage. |
