Greater Sage-Grouse

Centrocercus urophasianus

Order GALLIFORMES - Family PHASIANIDAE - Subfamily Tetraoninae

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1. Cool Facts
2. Description
3. Similar Species
4. Sound
5. Range
6. Habitat
7. Food
8. Behavior
9. Reproduction
10. Conservation Status
11. Other Names

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

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.

Description

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

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

Sex Differences

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

Immature

Immature similar to adult of same sex.

Similar Species

• Very similar to Gunnison Sage-Grouse, which is smaller, has a paler tail, and more prominent head plumes. Ranges do not overlap.
• Wild Turkey is larger, has rounded tail feathers, and lacks a black belly.
• Blue Grouse is distinguished from female Greater Sage-Grouse by slightly smaller size, rounded (not pointed) tail, and plainer underparts lacking blackish belly patch.
• Sharp-tailed Grouse is distinguished from female Greater Sage-Grouse by smaller size, short tail, white undertail coverts, and plainer underparts lacking blackish belly.

Sound

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

»listen to songs of this species

Range

Summer Range

Resident from northern Washington and southern Saskatchewan to southwestern Colorado, southern Utah, and eastern California.

Habitat

Foothills, plains and mountain slopes where sagebrush is present.

Food

Leaves, buds, stems, flowers, fruit, and insects.

Behavior

Courtship

Multiple males display at group display site, known as a lek.

Reproduction

Clutch Size

Usually 7-9 eggs. Range: 6-13.

Condition at Hatching

Downy and able to follow mother.

Conservation Status

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

Other Names

Tétras des armoises (French)

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.