The Prairie-Chicken That Resembles a Strikingly Colourful Rabbit (Image: Canva)

At first glance, you might think you're seeing a rabbit in feathers. With its tufted head plumes and glowing orange cheek sacs, the Attwater's prairie-chicken is a bird that feels otherworldly. Yet this rare creature is not from distant lands. It belongs to the coastal prairies of Texas and Louisiana, where it once thrived in huge numbers.

Why is the Attwater's prairie-chicken so unique?

The males are striking, with patterned feathers and ear-like tufts. Their mating rituals are even more unusual. From January to May, they gather to dance, stomp, and inflate their orange sacs while making "woo-woo" calls. These displays gave them the nickname "boomers" and even inspired traditional dances among Native tribes. Females, in contrast, are much plainer, though equally vital in nesting and raising chicks.

Attwater's Prairie-Chicken (Image: Canva)

In the early 1900s, over a million lived along Texas's coast. But aggressive planting of Chinese tallow trees destroyed native grasslands. Urban growth and fire suppression worsened their decline. By 1937, only 8,700 remained. The species was listed as endangered in 1967, with just 1,000 left. Conservationists were further dismayed when new oil drilling was permitted near breeding grounds in 1999. Within three years, fewer than 50 birds survived in the wild.

Are conservation efforts making a difference now?

Captive-breeding programmes began in the mid-2000s at centres including Fossil Rim, Abilene Zoo, and even NASA's Johnson Space Centre through a Houston Zoo partnership. Their work is ongoing, but challenges remain. In 2016, the population fell to just 42 birds. Hurricane Harvey in 2017 nearly wiped them out completely. Yet recovery followed, with around 178 wild birds reported by 2021.

The Attwater's prairie-chicken is still one of the rarest birds alive. Conservationists say with protection, careful breeding, and a bit of luck, the dazzling "rabbit-like chicken" could one day reclaim its lost prairies.