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Greater Sage-Grouse

Centrocercus urophasianus

The greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is a large, ground-dwelling grouse restricted to the sagebrush steppe of western North America and is considered a sagebrush-obligate species. Males gather in early spring on open display grounds called leks, where they perform conspicuous strutting displays to attract females. Females nest on the ground, typically under sagebrush, and raise chicks without male help. Diet varies by season but is dominated by sagebrush leaves for much of the year; chicks rely heavily on forbs and insects early on because they cannot digest sagebrush in their first weeks.

The greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is a large, ground-dwelling grouse restricted to the sagebrush steppe of western North America and is considered a sagebrush-obligate species. Males gather in early spring on open display grounds called leks, where they perform conspicuous strutting displays to attract females. Females nest on the ground, typically under sagebrush, and raise chicks without male help. Diet varies by season but is dominated by sagebrush leaves for much of the year; chicks rely heavily on forbs and insects early on because they cannot digest sagebrush in their first weeks.