Gunnison Sage-Grouse

Gunnison Sage-Grouse, male; Gunnison Co., CO. April

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About the map

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

Restricted to Colorado, the Gunnison Sage-Grouse was only recently realized to be a species separate from the Greater Sage-Grouse. The two species differ in size, display ornaments, and in breeding displays.

Description

Large chicken-like bird. Grayish in color. Belly black. Long tail, with spiky tail feathers.

• Size: 46-56 cm (18-22 in)
• Weight: 990-2435 g (34.95-85.96 ounces)

Sex Differences

Male larger than female, with white chest and black throat.

Sound

Male display includes hoots, and pops. Both sexes make clucking and cackling notes.

Conservation Status

Very restricted range and limited population size make this species highly vulnerable.

Other Names

Tétras du Gunnison (French)

Cool Facts

• The Gunnison Sage-Grouse was first described in 2000, and caught the American ornithological scene by surprise. It had not even been recognized as a different subspecies before. Differences in size, coloring, plume size and shape, display behavior, and genetics show this form to be distinct from the Greater Sage-Grouse.

Sources used to construct this page:

1. Schroeder, M. A., J. R. Young, and C. E. Braun. 1999. Sage Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). In The Birds of North America, No. 425 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.
2. Young, J. R., C. E. Braun, S. J. Oyler-McCance, J. W. Hupp, and T. W. Quinn. 2000. A new species of sage-grouse (Phasianidae: Centrocercus) from southwestern Colorado. Wilson Bulletin 112: 445-453.