Greater Sage-Grouse

Protecting the sage-grouse’s habitat can protect as many as 39 other sagebrush-associated vertebrate species of concern. USFWS image.

A Western Icon At Risk
Once abundant throughout the west, the greater sage-grouse is threatened by loss of its sagebrush habitat, including loss from oil and gas development, sprawl, human destruction of sagebrush, and invasive weeds like cheat grass. When habitat damage takes place due to one of these activities, sagebrush ecosystems can take 25-100 years to recover. As the sagebrush ecosystem is destroyed, so is the bird’s primary source of food and shelter, as well as the setting for its traditional courting ritual. Studies suggest there has been a decrease of 70-90% in overall abundance of the bird, and they are at even greater risk of reduced genetic variation due to this severe population decline.

Natural History
The greater sage-grouse is a grayish-brown bird between 22 and 30 inches long. Males display a white chest and black throat, while the female is very well camouflaged in its environment. The birds have an average lifespan of 1.5 years but can live up to five. Sage-grouse eat sagebrush almost exclusively during winter, and forbs (small flowering plants) in other seasons. Very young sage-grouse depend on eating grasshoppers, beetles, and ants.

The sage-grouse’s ornate and competitive mating ritual is considered to be the most elaborate of the grouses. Each spring, males gather at their traditional courtship location, called a lek. Leks are open areas of prairie next to dense stands of sagebrush, and grouse use them for decades. Up to a hundred males may gather at a single lek. During mating displays, males inflate large mustard-colored throat pouches with air, and puff out their collar of bright white feathers, all while making cooing and popping noises to attract the females.

Greater sage-grouse habitat in northwest Colorado.

Conservation Status
-Colorado Division of Wildlife Species of Concern
-Forest Service Sensitive Species
-BLM Sensitive Species in Colorado
-Colorado Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy Science Forum Species of Most Concern
-Partners in Flight Priority Birds
-Wyoming Species of Special Concern
-Utah Species of Concern

Action Taken
We helped expose a scandal involving political manipulation of greater sage-grouse science by now-deposed Interior Department official Julie MacDonald. Following multiple congressional investigations into the matter, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service committed to redo a host of endangered species decisions that were tainted by the political scandal. The Service is also currently wrapping up a final decision regarding protection for the greater sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act , a decision which is expected to be released in February 2010. In the meantime, Center for Native Ecosystems is working with partners to protect the greater sage-grouse and its declining sagebrush habitat.

Greater Sage-Grouse Fact Sheets

Conserving the Sage-Grouse, Conserving our Western Heritage

Oil and Gas Drilling Threaten Sage-Grouse

Sage-Grouse in Colorado

Sage-Grouse and Wind Energy

The Endangered Species Act: Our Legacy of Protecting America’s Natural Heritage

The Long Road to Recovery: Sage-Grouse and the Endangered Species Act

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High-resolution Greater Sage-grouse Photos
Greater Sage-grouse in California (USFWS image) (717 KB)
Greater Sage-grouse (USFWS) (1.6 MB)
Greater Sage-grouse Habitat in Northwest Colorado (783 KB)
Male Greater sage-grouse (2 MB; credit www.kevinsmithnaturephotos.com)
Greater Sage-grouse in Winter (2 MB; credit www.kevinsmithnaturephotos.com)
Greater Sage-grouse in Flight (3 MB; credit www.kevinsmithnaturephotos.com)
Greater Sage-grouse in Flight (4 MB; credit www.kevinsmithnaturephotos.com)