Skip to main content

Donate

Birds
Live Cams
Courses
Merlin Bird ID

Donate

Greater Sage-Grouse Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay Library Colorado, May 09, 2021

Lekking
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
Recorded by Gerrit Vyn / Macaulay Library
Lekking
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
Recorded by Gerrit Vyn / Macaulay Library
Calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
Wyoming, May 31, 2014Recorded by Gerrit Vyn / Macaulay Library
Calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
Wyoming, May 30, 2014Recorded by Jaimie Drysdale / Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Calls

Off the lek, males make a soft wut call when warning others of predators. Females give a variety of calls, though their function has not been well studied. When accompanying a brood, a soft, repetitive warning call indicates danger, while a single-note contact call helps keep chicks together. To distract or confront a predator, they use a loud hissing call. Females also call when soliciting males on the lek.

Other Sounds

The outlandish male strutting display is a complex, finely timed sequence of sounds, both vocal and mechanical. It begins with two wing swishes, separated by about one second, that are achieved by the male heaving his vocal sacs, enclosed in a neck pouch, through his wings that are held rigidly at his side. The swish sound is produced when the rough feathers on the neck pouch are dragged through his wings, and is only heard when the bird is very close by. Following the wing swishes is a short series of low, clear cooing notes, then two booming pops from in quick succession from the large yellow air sacs. Between the two pops is a whistle, and a few seconds after the display’s conclusion, the head is quickly raised to emit a huffing or snorting sound — thought to be a final release of air.

Compare with Similar Species

Click on an image to compare

Gunnison Sage-Grouse

Gunnison Sage-Grouse

Sharp-tailed Grouse

Ring-necked Pheasant

Looking for ID Help?

Our free app offers quick ID help with global coverage.

Try Merlin Bird ID

Species in This Family

Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies(Order: Galliformes, Family: Phasianidae)

Greater Sage-Grouse

Gunnison Sage-Grouse

Sharp-tailed Grouse

Greater Prairie-Chicken

Lesser Prairie-Chicken

White-tailed Ptarmigan

Willow Ptarmigan

Ring-necked Pheasant

Browse Species in This Family

More to Read

Living Bird MagazineLast Grouse Standing: Can Birds and Industry Coexist in the Western Sage Lands?
Federal Decision Not to List Greater Sage-Grouse Shows Conservation Is Working. Here's Why
Bird AcademyOn a Sage-Grouse Lek: A Video Exploration Into Wild Behavior

I’m seeing fewer birds in my yard. Is something affecting their populations?
After birds leave a nest box, can I clean out the nest for future use?
Bird CamsBird Cams FAQ: Red-tailed Hawk Nest

About Us

Contact Us

Follow us

© 2024 Cornell University

Search for species name or keywords

Or Browse Bird Guide by Family or Shape

Need Bird ID Help? Try Merlin

Don't miss a thing! Join our email list

The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.