Trip Date: March 2019 | Location: Nebraska
Greater Prairie Chickens are one of North America’s most sought-after spring birds. To see them, you must visit their lekking grounds in early spring. The McCook Prairie Chicken Dance Tour in Nebraska is one of the premier ways to witness this display ethically and comfortably.
When is the Best Time to See Greater Prairie Chickens?
Tours typically run from March through April, when the males gather on their leks to perform their spring dance. This is the only time of year when you can reliably see this display, as the birds are active and visible in the open prairie.
Planning Your McCook Prairie Chicken Tour
Located in Red Willow County, Nebraska, McCook is one of the best places to experience this unique behavior.
- The Orientation: The Prairie Chicken Dance Tour requires all participants to attend a mandatory, highly informative orientation session the evening before your viewing. Our guides, Angus and Carol, were passionate and knowledgeable, making the session essential for understanding the birds’ behavior.
- What to Expect: Expect a very early, cold morning—temperatures in March often hover in the 20s. To keep you comfortable, the tour provides converted viewing trailers, blankets, and hand warmers while you watch the display from a safe distance.
- Ethical Viewing: To avoid disturbing the birds, viewers must remain in the trailers until the birds fly off on their own—a period our guide referred to as the “hostage phase”
Our Lekking Experience
We arrived in McCook, Nebraska, to observe Greater Prairie Chickens. The night before the tour, we attended a very informative orientation. Our guides, Angus and Carol, were passionate and knowledgeable, making the session very helpful.
The following morning, we drove to Angus’s cattle ranch before sunrise. They converted goat trailers into viewing stations, each with a seat and an open window for the much-anticipated show. The temperature was in the 20s, so we were very thankful for the blankets and hand warmers provided! As dawn broke, we could hear and faintly see the birds. The drumming of the Prairie Chickens, along with the songs of the Horned Lark and Western Meadowlark, was a real treat for our ears.
We observed thirteen male and two female Greater Prairie Chickens. It was an unforgettable experience watching the males dance to attract the females. To avoid disturbing the birds, we had to wait for them to fly off, a period our guide referred to as the “hostage phase.” Thankfully, the birds eventually left, allowing us to head back for a delicious breakfast. Each of us received a prairie chicken pin to commemorate the experience.
This was, without a doubt, one of our best birding experiences. While Greater Prairie Chickens have vanished from vast portions of their historical North American range due to habitat loss, Southwest Nebraska remains one of the last strongholds. Go see—and hear—them while you can!
2025 Update: A Special Birthday Moment
In early 2025, Angus celebrated his 85th birthday, and Carol from the McCook/Red Willow County Visitors Bureau organized a surprise card‑sending effort to make the day special. I sent a card as part of her project, and Angus later shared how touched he was by the outpouring of well‑wishes.
He told Carol that one card arrived just after Christmas, and he couldn’t imagine how anyone knew his birthday was coming. The next day, a dozen more appeared in his mailbox, and he suspected there might have been a little coordination behind the scenes. Carol asked me to pass along his heartfelt thanks — the cards truly made his birthday unforgettable.
It’s been years since our 2019 visit, but the memories — and the people — have stayed with us. It’s also meaningful to know that Angus’s ranch provides a safe habitat for the Prairie Chickens.
Trip Totals: 3 species • 1 life bird (Greater Prairie Chicken)
Next Up: Winter Birding in Colorado —from Pike’s Peak to urban gems.
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