General

Gunnison Sage-Grouse: Recognized as a species in 2000. Large grouse, mottled gray-brown overall with white breast, black face, chin, throat, bib and belly. Yellow eye combs and long black filoplumes on neck show when courting. Female and juvenile are smaller, brown mottled overall and have black bellies. Distinguished from Greater Sage-Grouse by smaller size and paler barred tail.

Range and Habitat

Gunnison Sage-Grouse: Unique to Gunnison Basin of southwestern Colorado, some have moved into Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and the Kansas-Oklahoma border. Prefers open landscapes with areas of scrub vegetation.

Breeding and Nesting

Gunnison Sage-Grouse: Five to nine brown spotted, pale green to brown eggs are laid in a nest of grass and sedge leaves beneath sagebrush, incubated by female for 22 to 27 days.

Foraging and Feeding

Gunnison Sage-Grouse: Eats sagebrush leaves, buds, blossoms, and, seeds. Will eat insects during brood rearing.

Vocalization

Gunnison Sage-Grouse: Makes a series of low clucking noises.

Similar Species

Gunnison Sage-Grouse: Greater Sage-Grouse is larger and has less pronounced filoplumes on nape and neck.