The
greater prairie chicken or
pinnated grouse (
Tympanuchus cupido), sometimes called a
boomer, is a large
bird in the
grouse family. This
North American species was once abundant, but has become extremely rare and extirpated over much of its range due to
habitat loss. Conservation measures are underway to ensure the sustainability of existing small populations. One of the most famous aspects of these creatures is the
mating ritual called booming.