Subject: Lesser Prairie Chicken, Tympanuchus pallidicinctus, male erecting the pinnae or “ear feathers.”

Location: Mescalero Sands, Chaves County, New Mexico

Stock Number: 06-24535

Comment: This male Prairie Chicken is erecting his pinnae, or “ear feathers.” Females have much shorter ear feathers.

The male’s improbable ear feathers are just one feature on a body made for displaying.

The photo was taken at dawn at the Mescalero Sands, BLM lands where a number of Prairie Chicken leks are scattered amidst the sand dunes and low Shinnery Oak.

For other Prairie Chicken photos, see the links just below.