Greater Sage-Grouse Centrocercus urophasianus

Identification Tips:

• Length: 22? inches
• Large, rounded-winged, ground-dwelling, chicken-like bird
• Long, pointed tail
• Immature similar to adult female but paler
• Legs are feathered to base of toes

Adult male:

• Yellow comb over eye
• Blackish-brown throat and v-shaped mark on neck separated by white
• White breast
• Grayish nape, back and upperwings stippled with white
• Black belly
• Two olive-green air sacs inflated when displaying

Adult female:

• Buffy throat with black markings
• Lower throat and breast barred with blackish-brown
• Gray-brown plumage mottled with white and darker brown
• Dark belly

Similar species:

Gunnison Sage-Grouse very similar but has different range. Large size, grayish plumage, long pointed tail, and black belly eliminate all other grouse species.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.