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This is Episode 122. Host Ivan Phillipsen takes listeners into the vast sagebrush steppe of western North America and introduces the remarkable birds that call it home—the sage grouse. These birds are icons of the American West, tightly bound to a rugged ecosystem that covers nearly a third of the lower 48 states.

Ivan explores how sage grouse have evolved to thrive on a diet of sagebrush—plants laced with bitter, toxic chemicals that most animals avoid. From their unusual digestive adaptations to their elaborate courtship displays, these birds reveal fascinating strategies for survival in a tough landscape.

Listeners will learn about the two species of sage grouse, their distinctive appearances and behaviors, and the conservation challenges they face today.

Links of Interest

• Body-popping sage grouse - Nature's Greatest Dancers - BBC [VIDEO]

Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website

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