Gunnison Sage-Grouse
Centrocercus minimus
Large turkeylike bird found in extensive areas of sagebrush. Both sexes gray overall with very fine patterning, black belly, and long pointed tail. Males have a white breast and a black throat. Spectacular male display involves fanning tail, inflating yellow air sacs on chest, and thrusting them forward to produce liquidy popping noises. Extremely similar to more widespread Greater Sage-Grouse but smaller and no range overlap. Also note lighter tail and longer head plumes on Gunnison when displaying. Most easily seen at display sites in early spring; can be very inconspicuous at other times of year. Tends to forage in wet riparian areas near sagebrush. Population in decline.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Centrocercus minimus
- Authority
- Young, Braun, C, Oyler-McCance, Hupp & Quinn, 2000
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Genus
- Centrocercus
Range and habitat
Gunnison sage-grouse occur in seven counties in southwestern Colorado and one county in southeastern Utah. It was once found in Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, but is now extirpated in those states.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
This species is in decline because of loss of habitat; their range has shrunk. Following petitions, the species was proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and was eventually protected as a threatened species starting on December 22, 2014. The known population size of this species remains quite small, and it was estimated that fewer than 4,000 individuals existed in when the species was successfully protected under the Act. A 2019 survey found the population in Colorado to be reduced to an estimated 1,800 birds with only around 429 reproductive males, a record low for the species since surveys began.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Ashy-throated Chlorospingus
Chlorospingus canigularis
Small, plump, tanager-like sparrow, dull olive above with pale grayish-white throat and yellow wash on underparts. Thick bill. Sexes alike. Quite rare in foothill forest, typically at lower elevations than Common Chlorospingus (but significant overlap). Look for pairs with mixed-species flocks, usually foraging in the canopy.
Spotted Wren
Campylorhynchus gularis
Fairly large, chunky, and often conspicuous wren of drier foothills and mountains; endemic. Mainly in areas with pine-oak and oak woodland and scrub; often around villages and ranches, clambering on stone walls and even entering houses. Usually in small social groups, which can be confiding. No similar-looking species occur in its range. Note the black whisker, band of black spots across the breast, and complex patterning on the back, wings, and tail.
Brown Firefinch
Lagonosticta nitidula
This is the darkest and dullest firefinch, the only species without a red or pink rump. Both sexes have red in the bill. Males have an extensive red patch on the face, and females just a bit of red. Found in thickets, woodland, and riparian forest adjacent to wetlands. Quiet and inconspicuous. Usually in pairs or small groups. The song is a chattering mix of various types of notes, and calls include soft “tip” notes.
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