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: About 3,500 breeding sage-grouse occur among 7 separate populations throughout southwest Colorado and southeast Utah. The largest amount, about 2,500 birds, inhabits the Gunnison Basin. Habitat includes large expanses of sagebrush with a diversity of grasses and forbs and healthy wetland and riparian ecosystems.

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 found further north, and is larger and has less pronounced filoplumes on nape and neck.