Occurrence of Greater Sage-Grouse x Sharp-tailed Grouse hybrids in Alberta

Two distinct grouse were regularly observed at two Greater Sage-Grouse (Cen trocercus urophasianus) 1eks in both 1999 and 2000 in southeastern Alberta. Physically and behaviorally, the birds exhibited characteristics of both G reater Sage-Grouse and Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchas phasianellus), sugg esting they were hybrids. DNA analyses of blood and feather samples indicat ed that both birds were males with Greater Sage-Grouse mothers and thus, fa thers that were likely Sharp-tailed Grouse.