sagegrouse

The sagegrouse, commonly called the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), is a large North American grouse named for its dependency on sagebrush ecosystems. It is one of two species in the genus Centrocercus, the other being the Gunnison sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus). The greater sage-grouse occurs in western North America from portions of Canada to the United States, where extensive tracts of intact sagebrush provide winter forage and cover.

Adults are distinct in appearance, with males exhibiting elaborate courtship displays on spring leks, a black neck band, a white throat patch, and yellow air sacs that inflate during displays. Females are smaller and mottled brown, blending with the surrounding vegetation. Sage-grouse rely on sagebrush for food, particularly in winter, supplementing with herbs, grasses, and insects at other times. Chicks depend on abundant insects during early life.

Reproduction centers on lekking behavior in which males perform to attract females. Females select a mate, nest on the ground in sagebrush, typically laying 6 to 11 eggs. Incubation lasts about 23 to 26 days, and chicks fledge after several weeks, becoming independent within a few months.

Threats include habitat loss and fragmentation from development, agriculture, invasive grasses that alter fire regimes, and large wildfires. Climate change and energy extraction activities further degrade habitat quality. Conservation efforts focus on landscape-scale restoration of sagebrush habitats, wildfire risk reduction, and coordinated management by federal, state, and local agencies. The species’ conservation status varies regionally, with protections and recovery plans in many areas.