STRUTTING SOUNDS AND STRUTTING - POSTURING OF 2 UTAH SAGE GROUSE POPULATIONS

Sound and video tape recordings and still pictures were taken of two p opulations of strutting male sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). The two populations studied were from the Strawberry Valley and Parker Mountains. Sixteen elements of sounds were identified in the struttin g sequence. These elements were the same for both populations. Video t ape and still picture analysis revealed that both populations were sim ilar in posturing during the strutting sequence. We concluded that the Parker Mountains sage grouse population is suitable in terms of breed ing display behavior to augment the Strawberry Valley population. Sexu al compatibility would need to be determined in future studies.