Gunnison Sage-Grouse
NameGunnison Sage-Grouse
Common NameGunnison Sage-Grouse
Scientific NameCentrocercus minimus
FamilyPhasianidae
Wingspan (cm)65
Length (cm)45
Weight (g)1650
Plumage DetailsMales have a mottled brown and black body with white barring on the underparts. Their head is dark with yellow eye combs, and during display, they exhibit prominent stiff white neck feathers and inflate large, yellowish-green gular sacs. Females are smaller and more cryptically patterned in brown and black, lacking the prominent display features of the males.
Vocalization / CallMales produce a distinctive, low-frequency 'booming' sound during their courtship displays, created by air rapidly expelled from their inflated gular sacs. They also make clucking and cooing sounds.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatsgrassland, desert
Conservation Statuscritically-endangered
Geographic RangeEndemic to a small, fragmented range in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah, primarily centered in the Gunnison Basin.
Identifying FeaturesSmallest sage-grouse species, Males have prominent white neck feathers and inflatable yellow gular sacs during display, Long, spiky tail feathers, Heavily reliant on sagebrush habitat, Distinctive booming call on leks
Description
The Gunnison Sage-Grouse is a large, ground-dwelling bird known for its elaborate courtship displays. Males inflate large yellow air sacs and fan their spiky tails while producing booming calls on communal display grounds called leks. This species is highly dependent on sagebrush habitats.
