Gunnison Sage-Grouse

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

About the photographs

About the map

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1. Cool Facts
2. Description
3. Similar Species
4. Sound
5. Range
6. Habitat
7. Food
8. Behavior
9. Reproduction
10. Conservation Status
11. Other Names

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.

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.

Description

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

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

Sex Differences

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

Immature

Immature similar to adult of same sex.

Similar Species

• Very similar to Greater Sage-Grouse, which is larger, has a darker and longer tail, and less prominent head plumes. Ranges do not overlap.
• Wild Turkey is larger, has rounded tail feathers, and lacks a black belly.
• Blue Grouse is distinguished from female Greater Sage-Grouse by slightly smaller size, rounded (not pointed) tail, and plainer underparts lacking blackish belly patch.
• Sharp-tailed Grouse is distinguished from female Greater Sage-Grouse by smaller size, short tail, white undertail coverts, and plainer underparts lacking blackish belly.

Sound

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

Range

Range Map

© 2004 Cornell Lab of Ornithology

About the map

Summer Range

Resident in western Colorado and adjacent Utah.

Habitat

Sagebrush, sagebrush dominated shrub-steppe.

Food

Leaves, buds, stems, flowers, fruit, and insects.

Behavior

Courtship

Multiple males display at group display site, known as a lek.

Reproduction

Condition at Hatching

Downy and able to follow mother.

Conservation Status

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

Other Names

Tétras du Gunnison (French)

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.