Greater Sage-Grouse

Greater Sage-Grouse, male displaying; Mono Co., CA; April

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Greater Sage-Grouse, female; Mono Co., CA; April

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

A bird of the open sagebrush plains, the Greater Sage-Grouse is the largest grouse species in North America.

Description

Large chicken-like bird. Grayish in color. Belly black. Long tail, with spiky tail feathers.

• Size: 56-75 cm (22-30 in)
• Weight: 1400-2900 g (49.42-102.37 ounces)

Sex Differences

Male larger than female, with white chest and black throat.

Sound

Male display includes swishing sounds, hoots, and pops. Both sexes make clucking and cackling notes.

Conservation Status

Populations declining; has disappeared from a number of states and provinces.

Other Names

Tétras des armoises (French)

Cool Facts

• Like many other grouse species, the Greater Sage-Grouse male plays no role in the raising of the young. Males display on dancing grounds known as leks. Females visit the leks to obtain matings, and then go off to raise their brood by themselves.

• Traditional lekking grounds may be used for years.

• Although many male Greater Sage-Grouse may display at a lek, only one or two males get picked by a majority of the females for mating.

Sources used to construct this page:

Schroeder, M. A., J. R. Young, and C. E. Braun. 1999. Sage Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). In The Birds of North America, No. 425 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.