Summer Habitat of Sharp-Tailed Grouse, Pedioecetes Phasianellus (Linnaeus), in the Nebraska Sandhills

The summer habitat of sharp-tailed grouse was studied in the Nebraska Sandhills during the summers of 1964 and 1965 to determine the importance of physiographic exposures, climatological factors, and vegetation to sharp- tailed grouse habitat preferences. Vegetation samples were taken where sharp- tailed grouse were observed and in areas of uniform vegetation on certain physiographic exposures. Climatological data were obtained from four stations during the summer of /1965. Sharp-tailed grouse appear to select habitat types in the Sandhills that are most like their northern habitats. Displaying sharp- tailed grouse prefer open areas on relatively level ground; nesting sharp-tailed grouse pick rough topography with an abundance of previous years\u27 vegetation; brooding sharp-tailed grouse select level or gentle terrain; and loafing sharp-tailed grouse choose steep slopes with half-shrubs in abundance. This study is of value for formulating management plans concerning this upland game bird in an area of moderate sharp-tailed grouse population density