Greater Sage-Grouse Identification

Male

Large chubby grouse with a small head and long tail. Speckled brown and gray above. Males have a white breast, a black belly, and a black throat.

Female

Large chubby grouse with a small head. Females are speckled brown and gray above with brown speckling on the throat and a black belly.

Male display

One of the characteristic birds of sagebrush country of western North America. Males gather on display grounds, known as leks, to vie for the attention of females in the area.

Male and female

Males spread their tail into a starburst and inflate yellow air sacs in the chest when displaying, giving them a bizarre appearance. Females are much more subdued in appearance; they gather to closely inspect displaying males before mating.

Male display

Large grouse that fans its tail into a starburst when displaying and inflates 2 yellow air sacs in the chest.

Male display

Displaying males lunge forward to push air in and out of the yellow air sacs in their chest, making a quiet gurgling or popping sound. They vigorously defend the small display territories on their leks. They often display even when there are no females around.

Male display

Large chubby grouse with a small head and long tail that is fanned into a starburst when displaying. Males also inflate 2 yellow air sacs like round balloons while displaying.

Male

Displays begin in late winter or early spring, often when there is still snow on the ground.

Female

Large chubby grouse with a small head and fairly long tail. Note the large black belly patch.

Male