Sage-grouse
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 Adult male sage-grouse, species indeterminate
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The sage-grouse are the species in the bird genus Centrocercus. They are large grouse from temperate North America. Adults have a long, pointed tail and legs with feathers to the toes. Like in most Galliformes, there is pronounced sexual dimorphism.
Sage-grouse are notable for their elaborate courtship rituals. Each spring males congregate on leks and perform a "strutting display". Groups of females observe these displays and select the most attractive males to mate with. Only a few males do most of the breeding. Males perform on leks for several hours in the early morning and evening during the spring months. Leks are generally open areas adjacent to dense sagebrush stands, and the same lek may be used by grouse for decades.
There are two species:
- Gunnison Sage-grouse, Centrocercus minimus
- Greater Sage-grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus
The Mono Basin population may represent a third species.
They are also collectively known known as sagehen, sage grouse, sage cock, sage chicken or cock of the plains[1]. A sagehen is the mascot of the Pomona College and Pitzer College athletic teams of Claremont, California.
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed., 2007)
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