Greater Sage-Grouse Photo Gallery
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.
© Ryan Jones / Macaulay LibraryColorado, April 17, 2019Female
Large chubby grouse with a small head. Females are speckled brown and gray above with brown speckling on the throat and a black belly.
© Darren Clark / Macaulay LibraryIdaho, March 29, 2015Male 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.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryColorado, May 09, 2021Not all videos have soundMale 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.
© Darren Clark / Macaulay LibraryIdaho, April 11, 2019Male display
Large grouse that fans its tail into a starburst when displaying and inflates 2 yellow air sacs in the chest.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryColorado, April 18, 2016Male 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.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, April 13, 1997Not all videos have soundMale 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.
© Matthew Pendleton / Macaulay LibraryUtah, March 25, 2016Male
Displays begin in late winter or early spring, often when there is still snow on the ground.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryColorado, April 18, 2016Female
Large chubby grouse with a small head and fairly long tail. Note the large black belly patch.
© Marcel Such / Macaulay LibraryWyoming, January 04, 2019Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies(Order: Galliformes, Family: Phasianidae)
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