Centrocercus urophasianus

The greater sage grouse is a bird of the sage-steppe shrub habitat. It has a symbiotic relationship with sage. It eats sage, nests under sage and hides its brood in sage.

Sage grouse are the largest of the grouse family in North America. They range from 22 to 30 inches and weigh between 3 and 6 pounds.

Sage grouse have a unique breeding behavior. They gather around a lek (a strutting ground) in the spring. Males fight each other for dominance. Females choose mates from among the the most dominant males. Strutting males will fill air sacs on their breast and throw themselves forward to bounce these air sacs off their breast bone. The vocalization is a deep gulping, hooting and popping type sound, which always impresses the hens.

The greater sage grouse has been petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act. It has disappeared from much of its range in the West. Conservation efforts from groups like the Rich County CRM are under way to improve sage grouse habitat. Utah State University Extension and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will be holding training sessions for volunteers to conduct grouse lek searches this spring. If interested, contact Todd Black at www.cnr.usu.edu/cbcp or 435-770-9302.

The Layton Wild Bird Center is holding a free birding trip Saturday to view strutting sage grouse on a lek in use for more than 150 years. Call 801-525-8400 to register for the greater sage grouse lek field trip.

---

* BILL FENIMORE is owner of the Layton Wild Bird Center (www.wildbird.com/layton).

See video of the sage grouse strut at

www.sltrib.com/outdoors