Sage Grouse: Icon of the West celebrates, in photographs and words, a spectacular bird native to the vast 'Sagebrush Sea' of the Intermountain West. The sage-grouse's elaborate courtship dance is one of the most flamboyant mating displays in nature. This bizarre, dramatic ritual captures the heart of anyone fortunate enough to witness it.

The High Desert of the West may seem empty, but it is home to diverse and abundant wildlife that rely on this unique, unforgiving ecosystem. The sage-grouse is the most famous species to make its home there and nowhere else.

Sage Grouse: Icon of the West is lavishly illustrated with photographs by award-winning nature photographer Noppadol Paothong. These breathtaking images—many showing aspects of sage-grouse life never documented before—are accompanied with lively text by accomplished natural history writer Kathy Love. Together, they tell the story of the grouse, the habitat it needs, and the threats faced by both.

With up-close and captivating images that have never been documented before, Sage Grouse: Icon of the West introduces this unique and remarkable species and the land they depend upon. It also hopes to deepen the discussion about conservation efforts for the sage-grouse so that our next generation, too, can marvel at their beauty and grace.

After much debate and discussion, it was decided in 2015 not to list the sage-grouse as an endangered species but instead to embark on one of the largest conservation efforts in U.S. history. For these efforts to be successful, they must be made in ways that will benefit all – humans and wildlife that live in and near the sage-grouse habitat.