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Greater Sage Grouse - BirdForum Opus

Male in breeding plumage
Photo by maitreya
Jack Mountain, Oregon, April 2007
Centrocercus urophasianus

Identification

Male 66–76 cm, female 48–58 cm
Heavy, with long, spiky, pointed tails
Black belly

Distribution

Western North America: found in Canada (Alberta, Saskatchewan)
United States of America: California, Colorado, Idaho, Washington, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming

Taxonomy

Female
Photo by amaizlish
Bodie State Park, California, July 2012

This is a monotypic species[1].

Formerly considered conspecific with the Gunnison Sage Grouse.

Habitat

Found almost exclusively in dry sagebrush plains, usually in small groups.

Behaviour

Breeding

In spring, groups of males form leks, where many display at the same spot, so that the females can choose between them.

Diet

Their diet consists almost entirely of sagebrush.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Avibase
  3. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved August 2014)

Recommended Citation

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External Links

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