Gunnison Sage-grouse

Gunnison Sage-Grouse are notable for their elaborate courtship rituals. Each spring males congregate on leks and perform a strutting display. Groups of females observe these displays and select the most attractive males to mate with. Only a few males do most of the breeding. Males perform on leks for several hours in the early morning and evening during the spring months. Leks are generally open areas adjacent to dense sagebrush stands, and the same lek may be used by grouse for decades.

The Gunnison Sage-grouse is classified as Endangered (EN), considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

the Gunnison Sage-grouse as a newly named species in 2000 after a review of the scientific data by the AOU Nomenclature Committee which consists of the leading taxonmic specialists in North and Central America. In 2006, the International Ornithological Congress has recommended that the species common name be Gunnison Grouse and that the species previously referred to as Greater Sage-grouse be named Sage Grouse (Gill and Wright 2006). More

* Gunnison Sage-grouse Rangewide Conservation Plan * Sage-grouse Local Working Group Plans * Gunnison Sage-grouse species profile (NDIS) * Western State College Gunnison Sage-grouse site * USGS Sage Map * Greater sage-grouse species profile * Sage Grouse Research Video (2. More

Gunnison sage-grouse require a variety of habitats such as large expanses of sagebrush with a diversity of grasses and forbs and healthy wetland and riparian ecosystems. It requires sagebrush for cover and fall and winter food. More

Gunnison Sage-grouse Conservation Program = Need help? Click here to search this web site. About the Gunnison Sage-grouse Conservation Program - Jim Cochran Jim Cochran Gunnison County Wildlife Coordinator The Gunnison Sage-grouse, a unique species of North American grouse, is a year-around resident of Gunnison County. More

mating behavior of the Gunnison sage-grouse differs from that of greater sage-grouse. The Gunnison sage-grouse mating display includes unique visual and acoustical patterns that do not occur in greater sage-grouse. Gunnison sage-grouse males have more noticeable white barring in their sharply pointed tail feathers (retrices), which are also longer than are those of greater sage-grouse. More

Gunnison Sage-Grouse are notable for their elaborate courtship rituals. Each spring males congregate on leks and perform a "strutting display". Groups of females observe these displays and select the most attractive males to mate with. Only a few males do most of the breeding. Males perform on leks for several hours in the early morning and evening during the spring months. Leks are generally open areas adjacent to dense sagebrush stands, and the same lek may be used by grouse for decades. More

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. More

Until 2000, the Gunnison Sage-Grouse was considered part of a single species, the Sage Grouse. Recent genetic work and behavioral studies prompted ornithologists to split it into the Greater Sage-Grouse and the Gunnison Sage-Grouse, which has a severely restricted range and a tiny population. Appearance: A fairly large, ground-dwelling grouse, the Gunnison Sage-Grouse looks like a large, dark chicken. Males weigh almost twice as much as females (4.6 versus 2.4 pounds), with a longer body (22 vs. More

The Gunnison Sage-Grouse ~ A Dance of Survival This informative 18-minute video developed by the Gunnison Sage Grouse Working Group in 2000 will help you learn about the efforts to return the Gunnison sage-grouse population to a healthy size. The Gunnison Sage-Grouse ~ A Dance of Survival from HCCA. More

Species Description: The Gunnison sage-grouse (Centrocerus minimus) is a species of sage-grouse found south of the Colorado River in Colorado and Utah. They are about one-third smaller than the greater sage-grouse, and males have more distinct, white barring on their tail feathers, longer and more dense filoplume on their necks. Female Gunnison and greater sage-grouse have nearly the same plumage, but the female Gunnison is again about one-third smaller than the greater sage-grouse. More

In 2006, the Audubon Society listed the Gunnison sage-grouse as one of the 10 most endangered birds in North America. Photo © BLM A Prairie Native At Risk The Gunnison sage-grouse is endemic to southwest Colorado and a small corner of southeastern Utah. Only recently recognized as a separate species, it is estimated that Gunnison sage-grouse have lost nearly 90% of their historic range. Now confined to eight isolated populations, this extremely rare species faces an inordinate risk of extinction from development threats. More

Gunnison Sage-Grouse Gets Another Chance at Protection - By josh on August 20, 2009 The extremely imperiled Gunnison sage-grouse will be reconsidered for Endangered Species Act protection under the terms of a court settlement signed by a coalition of conservation groups, including Center for Native Ecosystems, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. More

The Gunnison sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus) is a newly named species native to the Gunnison Basin and surrounding areas, recognized by the American Ornithological Union in 2000. It was formerly known as the Northern sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), which is spread throughout the western United States. The Gunnison sage-grouse is about 2/3 the size of the Northern sage-grouse, has a different coloration and a distinct mating ritual. Since the 1970's, researchers have been aware of the differences between the two birds. More

The Gunnison Sage-Grouse was newly described as a species separate from the Greater Sage-Grouse. It is characterized by a smaller body size, unique plumage, and low genetic variation; differences in mating displays and vocalizations have also been noted. It is found only in six or seven counties in Colorado, and one in Utah. The Gunnison Basin in Colorado comprises over half its entire world range. The bird’s habitat is shrub-steppe below 9,200 feet including sagebrush, riparian areas, meadows. More

seeing the Gunnison Sage-Grouse presents a challenging quest for North American birders. On this tour, we’ll travel to southeastern Utah, where several leks of displaying males will give us the best chance at successfully viewing this rare bird. By watching the spectacular display of the males, we’ll also be able to see the most striking differences between the two sage-grouse species, including the elongated filoplumes on the neck of the Gunnison Sage-Grouse. More