March 28, 2009. East of Montecello, San Juan County, Utah. Unable to get within good photographic range(not wanting to disturb) and extremely backlit. This is the best I could get.
However, these are extemely magnificant birds. Rare, with only two leks in Utah. Smaller than Greater Sage Grouse, males display lighter in color and more definely marked tail. Males display a defined black collar on top of white neck(very striking). Males have a very full, long "pony tail" which they flip at each other and show off to the females. Very beautiful in detail and color, these images do not do this bird justice. This is one of those birds where I just stood and watched in awe, and reverence. Paul