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Sage Grouse Sage Grouse are related to the Ruffed, Spruce and Blue grouse. These very large birds can be up to three feet long and weight up to eight pounds. Males have bright white breasts with a black underside and neck and pointed feathers on their tail. Sage Grouse are found in the northwestern U.S. and use sagebrush for their source of food and cover, as implied by their name. In addition, they eat berries, insects and other small grains. Sage Grouse are well known for their elaborate courtship rituals. Every spring the males gather on leks and perform a strutting display, while the females gather and watch and then select the most attractive male to |
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mate with. The mating ritual lasts for several hours in the morning and evening throughout the spring months. Sage Grouse follow the same eating behavior as other upland birds, which includes eating in the morning and again later own, while resting throughout the middle part of the day. Sages are constantly on guard for an attacker, relying only on eyesight to spot them. They escape by running and hiding and often flush out of range from hunters. When Sages are flushed they break apart from their whole covey into smaller groups. |
