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Sage grouse

A.k.a. sage hen. Centrocercus urophasianus. A characteristic species of the sagebrush biome of western North America. Its numbers have declined drastically, largely due to habitat destruction. From personal experience, it's also dumb even by the standards of gallinaceous birds! Sometimes you practically have to kick them out of the way. This is a female, as shown by the dull plumage. The males have prominent crests and white patches on the chest. In Lake Tahoe Nevada state park, off the trail to Marlette Lake.
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11 comments

William Sutherland said:

Outstanding capture!

Admired in:
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9 years ago

Pam J said:

Hmmmm... There are dumber humans....

Admired in ~ I ♥ Nature
9 years ago ( translate )

slgwv said:

Thanks, everyone! It's amazing they've survived as well as they have. But, around the turn of the last century before present-day game laws, they were still abundant enough they were being market-hunted.
9 years ago

RHH said:

Nice capture, Steve. We see them fairly frequently here.
9 years ago ( translate )

slgwv replied to RHH:

Thanks, Ron! Apparently they require sagebrush.
9 years ago

Gudrun said:

This one looks like a close relative of the red grouse of England and Scotland which feeds on heather. Red grouse are also dumb, they sit until you nearly step on them, then they suddenly fly up with a lot of noise;-)
9 years ago

slgwv replied to Gudrun:

Yup! Sounds very similar ;)
9 years ago ( translate )

Nora Caracci said:

lovely capture among the artistic grass !
9 years ago

slgwv replied to Nora Caracci:

Thanks!
9 years ago

Jeff Farley said:

A rare capture and thank you for posting in Fur, Fin and Feather.
9 years ago

slgwv replied to Jeff Farley:

Thanks & glad you liked it!
9 years ago