What is "sharp-tailed grouse"

n. large grouse of prairies and open forests of western North America [syn: sprigtail, sprig tail, Pedioecetes phasianellus]

The sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) (previously: Tetrao phasianellus), is a medium-sized prairie grouse. It is also known as the sharptail, and is known as "fire grouse" or "fire bird" by Native American Indians due to their reliance on brush fires to keep their habitat open. 1