Sage Grouse

Photo by Holly Higgins

Sage Grouse are congregating on their ancestral strutting/breeding grounds called "leks" throughout the Great Basin right now. The cocks have been on the leks since late winter awaiting the arrival of the hens. Now that the hens are arriving, the courtship ritual of strutting, fanning of tail-feathers, wing movements, and the inflating and deflating of brightly colored air sacs by the cocks will ensue. From this strutting display the females will then choose the most attractive male to breed with.The grouse pictured above were spotted on a lek in eastern Oregon.