Gunnison Sage-grouse
A species of Sage-grouses Scientific name : Centrocercus minimus Genus : Sage-grouses
Gunnison Sage-grouse, A species of Sage-grouses
Botanical name: Centrocercus minimus
Genus: Sage-grouses
Content
Description General Info
Description
The Gunnison grouse or Gunnison sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus) is a species of grouse endemic to the United States. It is similar to the closely related greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in appearance, but about a third smaller in size, with much thicker plumes behind the head; it also has a less elaborate courtship dance. It is restricted in range to southwestern Colorado and extreme southeastern Utah, with the largest population residing in the Gunnison Basin region in Colorado. Despite being native to a country where the avifauna is relatively well known, it was overlooked until the 1990s due to the similarities with the sage grouse, and only described as a new species in 2000—making it the first new avian species to be described from the USA since the 19th century. The description of C. minimus as a separate species is supported by a molecular study of genetic variation, showing that gene flow between the large-bodied and the small-bodied birds is absent. 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 with which to mate. 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. Leks are generally open areas adjacent to dense sagebrush stands, and the same lek may be used by grouse for decades. 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 in 2015. 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. 
Size
41 - 81 cm
Life Expectancy
3-9 years (wild), 1 years (captivity)
Nest Placement
Ground
Clutch Size
3 - 10 eggs
Number of Broods
25 - 29 days
Feeding Habits
Gunnison Sage-grouse's diet is dominated by sagebrush leaves year-round, particularly from November to April. Chicks primarily consume forbs and insects, such as beetles, grasshoppers, and ants, due to their inability to digest sagebrush initially. Forbs are crucial for females pre-laying. In fragmented habitats, gunnison Sage-grouse also forages in fields of alfalfa, wheat, and beans.
Habitat
Gunnison Sage-grouse are found primarily in the temperate shrublands of high-elevation sagebrush steppe of western North America, particularly at altitudes between 5,900–9,000 feet. They favor areas densely vegetated with various types of sagebrush, including big, black, and low sagebrush, complemented by deciduous shrubs like Gambel oak and serviceberry. For nesting, gunnison Sage-grouse seek sites with dense big sagebrush cover, but also utilize rabbitbrush and grassland habitats. Their breeding grounds, or leks, are situated in open spaces such as ridgetops or dry lakebeds. For foraging, especially during chick-rearing, they may venture into moist meadows, irrigated fields, and areas with abundant native grasses and forbs.
Nest Behavior
Female gunnison Sage-grouse solely handle nest-building, incubation, and chick-rearing. Nest construction is synchronized with breeding season timing. Notably, males do not contribute to parental care, and the specifics of the egg-laying routine and chick development in relation to parental investment are critical for the species' life history.
Nest Characteristics
Gunnison Sage-grouse creates ground nests, typically shaded beneath sagebrush shrubs or grass tufts in dense shrub areas. Their bowl-shaped nests are scraped into soil and lined with leaves, grass, forbs, twigs, and the female’s breast feathers. These nests measure approximately 8–9 inches across and 2 inches deep.
Dite type
Herbivorous
General Info
Behavior
Gunnison Sage-grouse engage in a unique breeding practice known as lekking. Males display elaborate courtship rituals in designated areas to entice females, who selectively mate with a limited number of the displaying males. Intense competition exists among males to exhibit the most attractive behaviors and secure mating opportunities. These birds interact intricately with their sagebrush habitat, relying on it for cover and food. Outside of the breeding season, gunnison Sage-grouse lead a more subdued life, foraging for sagebrush leaves and insects, maintaining territories, and avoiding predators in their sage-steppe ecosystem.
Distribution Area
Gunnison sage-grouse occur in seven counties in southwestern Colorado and one county in southeastern Utah.
Scientific Classification
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