Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)

Identification and biology

Adult males are larger and more ornate than females, characterized by a long tail, a white ruff around the neck, and inflatable yellow throat sacs that they display during courtship. Females are more cryptically colored for nesting. Like other members of the Phasianidae family, they have a heavy-bodied form and strong legs. Their diet shifts seasonally: in winter they rely heavily on sagebrush leaves, and in spring–summer they consume seeds, insects and forbs that are important for chick survival.

Habitat and range

Greater sage-grouse inhabit sagebrush-dominated landscapes across a broad but patchy range in the western United States and in Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada. They require large expanses of relatively intact sagebrush for nesting, brood-rearing and wintering. Habitat fragmentation and loss reduce the connectivity needed for their seasonal movements and long-term viability.

Behavior and reproduction

Males gather on communal display areas called leks to perform elaborate courtship displays that include fanning their tails, inflating throat sacs and producing popping sounds. Females visit leks to select mates and then nest on the ground in sagebrush cover. Chicks depend on insect-rich microhabitats during early development.

Conservation and threats

Populations have declined in many parts of the range due to conversion of sagebrush to agriculture, energy development, invasive grasses, altered fire regimes, and infrastructure that fragments habitat. Conservation actions include habitat protection, targeted restoration, grazing management, and collaborative plans among state, federal and private partners. The species has been the subject of regulatory review and conservation agreements aimed at preventing further loss.

Further reading and resources

• Range and distribution summary
• Sagebrush ecosystem information
• U.S. conservation efforts
• Alberta provincial resources
• Saskatchewan wildlife information
• Historical accounts and records
• Comparison with pheasants and other galliforms
• Taxonomy and family Phasianidae
• Gunnison sage-grouse (related species)
• Genus Centrocercus overview
• General species profile