BEHAVIOR OF LEKKING SAGE GROUSE IN RESPONSE TO A PERCHED GOLDEN EAGLE

Abstract

Other investigators (Patterson 1952, Wiley 1973, Hartzler 1974) have described the anti-predator behavior of lekking Sage Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in response to an approaching Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). However, no accounts exist of the behavioral responses of Sage Grouse to a perched Golden Eagle, largely because most Sage Grouse leks are on open sagebrush plains void of trees that might serve as perches (Patterson 1952).