Sage Grouse

Overview

The Sage Grouse, also called the Greater Sage-Grouse, is the largest grouse species in North America and is closely tied to sagebrush steppe habitat across the western United States and southern Canada. Males are famous for their elaborate lek courtship displays, in which they fan long, spiky tail feathers and inflate bright yellow-green air sacs on the chest while making unusual popping sounds.

• Family: Phasianidae (grouse)
• Diet: sagebrush leaves, other plant material, and invertebrates
• Range: sagebrush steppe of the western United States and southern Canada

Feather Identification

• Body feathers: mottled grey-brown across the back and wings, providing camouflage in sagebrush habitat.
• Underparts: a bold black belly patch contrasts with a white breast band in males.
• Tail: long, narrow, spiky-pointed tail feathers are fanned into a spiky display during courtship, unlike the rounded or wedge tails of other grouse.
• Neck: males show specialized filoplume feathers and bare yellow skin on the chest that inflates during display.
• Vs. similar species: the combination of very large size, a black belly patch, and spiky pointed tail feathers readily distinguishes it from Sharp-tailed Grouse and prairie-chickens found in overlapping regions.

Plumage Notes

Adult males show the most elaborate plumage features, including specialized chest filoplumes and the longest tail feathers, most prominent during spring lek displays. Females are smaller and more uniformly mottled brown, lacking the black belly patch's sharp contrast and specialized display feathers. Juveniles resemble females until their first full molt into adult plumage.

Habitat & Range

Sage Grouse are obligate residents of sagebrush steppe and sagebrush-dominated shrubland across the western United States, including the Great Basin and northern Rockies, extending into southern Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada. They are largely non-migratory within suitable habitat, though some populations move seasonally between breeding and wintering areas.

Behavior

Sage Grouse feed heavily on sagebrush leaves, especially in winter, supplemented by other plant material and invertebrates during the breeding season. Males gather on traditional lek grounds each spring to perform an elaborate display, fanning their spiky tail, inflating chest air sacs, and producing distinctive popping and swishing sounds. Nests are ground scrapes typically placed under sagebrush cover for concealment.