By editor
Musselshell and Petroleum Counties
North of the Musselshell River, the landscape opens into a vast, rolling sea of Wyoming big sagebrush. This is the Musselshell Sage-steppe, a harsh, dry, and unforgiving environment that is nevertheless critical to the survival of several specialized bird species.
This unbroken habitat is a stronghold for the Greater Sage-Grouse, which relies entirely on the sagebrush for food and cover year-round. In the spring, the males gather on their leks to perform their booming displays. The area also supports significant populations of the Brewer's Sparrow, whose long, trilling song is the defining sound of the sagebrush in summer, and the Sage Thrasher, which sings from the tops of the tallest shrubs. In the winter, the sagebrush plains are hunted by Golden Eagles and Rough-legged Hawks.
Visitor Access
The Musselshell Sage-steppe is a vast mosaic of Bureau of Land Management property, state trust lands, and private ranches. There are no designated birding sites, trails, or facilities. Access is achieved by driving the remote, unpaved county roads that crisscross the region. High-clearance vehicles are necessary, and travel is not recommended after rain. Birders must carry detailed land ownership maps to ensure they remain on public land.