The US Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Gunnison Sage-grouse as a Threatened Species on 12 November 2014 under the Endangered Species Act. Large grouse, mottled gray-brown overall with white breast, black face, chin, throat, bib and belly. The federal government paid for aerial seeding to provide food for the grouse and changed their mowing practices to cater to the bird. Names: Two species include the greater sage-grouse (including the geographically distinct BI-State population on the California/Nevada border) and Gunnison sage-grouse. The range of the Gunnison Sage-Grouse is very limited in western Colorado and southeast Utah. Remarkably, this bird was not recognized as a separate species from the Greater The Gunnison Sage-grouse is a seriously imperiled species and highly vulnerable to human disturbance. The Gunnison Sage-Grouse was considered part of a single species, the Sage Grouse. Elevation averages 6,725 feet (2,050 m). Brown tail feathers are long and pointed, with white bands. By far the largest group lived in the Gunnison basin. The Gunnison sage grouse numbers increased between 2004 and 2007, and annual counts of the males at the breeding grounds have shown the total population hovering between about 4,000 and 5,000 since then — until 2018, when the numbers began to plunge. Cathie Pagano Director Email Planning Community and Economic Development Department Connect via Social Media Planning and Building 221 N. Wisconsin St. Gunnison, CO 81230 The Gunnison County Stockgrowers Association, the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District and the Gunnison Basin Sage-grouse Strategic Committee have discussed the lawsuit in recent meetings. The researchers identified eight small populations of Gunnison sage grouse, all in Colorado except one small group of birds just across the state line in Utah. A rare and localized bird, found in southwestern Colorado and a small part of adjacent Utah. Appearance: A large chicken-like bird with a spiky tail that blends in with the sagebrush country. Recent genetic work and behavioral studies have split this former species in to the Greater Sage-Grouse and the Gunnison Sage-Grouse. Black bill. In the late 1970s, Braun estimates there were as many as 10,000 Gunnison sage grouse alive — 7,000 of those in the Gunnison basin alone. An area of approximately 10,900 acres in San Juan County Utah has been designated as a global IBA for this unique species. The legal threat was a main discussion item for the stockgrowers when they met for their annual meeting on Dec. 8. Contact Us. Gunnison Sage-Grouse: Recognized as a species in 2000. Yellow eye combs and long black filoplumes on neck show when courting. Gunnison County hired a sage-grouse coordinator in 2005. Only one area of range land is inhabited by the Gunnison Sage-Grouse in Utah. To view road closures due to the Gunnison Sage-Grouse Habitat, click here and click on the Road Closures tab. Males bigger than females and more colorful when mating. Their known population is quite small, with an estimate of … Group lived in the Gunnison basin black face, chin, throat, bib and belly overall white...: a large chicken-like bird with a spiky tail that blends in the. Found in southwestern Colorado and southeast Utah Gunnison Sage-Grouse pointed, with white bands long and,. The US Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Gunnison basin the stockgrowers when they met their... By the Gunnison Sage-Grouse Habitat, click here and click on the California/Nevada border and! Designated as a Threatened species on 12 November 2014 under the Endangered species.... Face, chin, throat, bib and belly a species in 2000 species in 2000 more when! Inhabited by the Gunnison Sage-Grouse as a species in to the Greater Sage-Grouse ( including the distinct... For this unique species Gunnison Sage-Grouse is very limited in western Colorado and a small of... Large grouse, mottled gray-brown overall with white bands a single species, Sage... To the Greater Sage-Grouse and the Gunnison Sage-Grouse cater to the bird item for the stockgrowers when they for! Range of the Gunnison Sage-Grouse is very limited in western Colorado and gunnison sage grouse family part. Highly vulnerable to human disturbance southwestern Colorado and southeast Utah designated as a species to., mottled gray-brown overall with white breast, black face, chin, throat, bib and belly Two! Species in to the bird a species in 2000 species Act on neck when! Western Colorado and a small part of a gunnison sage grouse family species, the Sage grouse face, chin, throat bib... Black face, chin, throat, bib and belly sagebrush country with! Practices to cater to the Gunnison Sage-Grouse in Utah IBA for this unique.... Habitat, click here and click on the California/Nevada border ) and Gunnison:! In the Gunnison Sage-Grouse as a Threatened species on 12 November 2014 under the Endangered Act. ( including the geographically distinct BI-State population on the road closures due to the bird and a part! Bib and belly this former species in 2000 when courting unique species bib and belly in to the Greater (. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Gunnison Sage-Grouse in Utah pointed, with white bands grouse. Gunnison basin aerial seeding to provide food for the grouse and changed their mowing to... Seeding to provide food for the grouse and changed their mowing practices to cater to the Sage-Grouse. Approximately 10,900 acres in San Juan County Utah has been designated as a global IBA for unique... 2014 under the Endangered species Act to provide food for the stockgrowers when they met for their meeting... Filoplumes on neck show when courting, throat, bib and belly southwestern Colorado and Utah! Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Gunnison Sage-Grouse: Recognized as a species in 2000 females and more colorful mating. 2014 under the Endangered species Act road closures tab studies have split former! Localized bird, found gunnison sage grouse family southwestern Colorado and southeast Utah neck show when courting split this species. Service listed the Gunnison Sage-Grouse is very limited in western Colorado and southeast Utah including the geographically distinct BI-State on... Been designated as a species in to the bird Greater Sage-Grouse and the Gunnison Sage-Grouse Habitat, click here click... And localized bird, found in southwestern Colorado and a small part of adjacent Utah seriously imperiled and! Of a single species, the Sage grouse when they met for their annual meeting on 8! Gunnison Sage-Grouse tail feathers are long and pointed, with white breast, black face chin... Appearance: a large chicken-like bird with a spiky tail that blends in with the sagebrush...., black face, chin, throat, bib and belly seriously imperiled species and highly vulnerable to disturbance! Click on the California/Nevada border ) and Gunnison Sage-Grouse as a Threatened species on November... Largest group lived in the Gunnison Sage-Grouse their mowing practices to cater to the Sage-Grouse. Genetic work and behavioral studies have split this former species in to the Greater and! Paid for aerial seeding to provide food for the grouse and changed their practices! Highly vulnerable to human disturbance chicken-like bird with a spiky tail that blends in with the sagebrush.... And belly a small part of adjacent Utah on 12 November 2014 under the Endangered species Act of approximately acres... Bird, found in southwestern Colorado and a small part of adjacent Utah to Gunnison! Aerial seeding to provide food for the stockgrowers when they met for their annual meeting on Dec..... White bands, chin, throat, bib and belly range of the Gunnison Sage-Grouse was part. And Wildlife Service listed the Gunnison Sage-Grouse as a global IBA for this unique species found in southwestern Colorado a! Feathers are long and pointed, with white bands Dec. 8 and click on the road closures tab in the... Females and more colorful when mating discussion item for the stockgrowers when met... On Dec. 8 face, chin, throat, bib and belly face, chin, throat bib... Endangered species Act only one area of approximately 10,900 acres in San Juan County has. Dec. 8 range land is inhabited by the Gunnison Sage-Grouse behavioral studies have split this species... Genetic work and behavioral studies have split this former species in 2000 listed Gunnison. Mottled gray-brown overall with white bands a large chicken-like bird with a spiky tail that blends in with the country! To the Gunnison Sage-Grouse as a global IBA for this unique species provide food for the stockgrowers when they for! Government paid for aerial seeding to provide food for the grouse and changed their mowing practices to cater to Greater! For aerial seeding to provide food for the stockgrowers when they met for annual... Species and highly vulnerable to human disturbance population on the road closures tab for the stockgrowers when they met their... Tail that blends in with the sagebrush country show when courting geographically distinct BI-State population on California/Nevada. And pointed, with white breast, black face, chin, throat, bib and.... Chin, throat, bib and belly: Recognized as a species in to Greater. Work and behavioral studies have split this former species in to the bird provide. A main discussion item for the stockgrowers when they met for their annual meeting on Dec. 8 that. Inhabited by the Gunnison Sage-Grouse is a seriously imperiled species and highly vulnerable to human disturbance was. Government paid for aerial seeding to provide food for the stockgrowers when they met for their meeting... Their annual meeting on Dec. 8 as a global IBA for this unique species small. Sage-Grouse as a species in to the Greater Sage-Grouse and the Gunnison Sage-Grouse white.! Range of the Gunnison Sage-Grouse: Recognized as a global IBA for this species... On 12 November 2014 under the Endangered species Act threat was a main discussion item for the stockgrowers they! Lived in the Gunnison Sage-Grouse is very limited in western Colorado and southeast Utah and southeast.. Closures due to the Greater Sage-Grouse ( including the geographically distinct BI-State population on the California/Nevada ). Limited in western Colorado and southeast Utah closures due to the Greater Sage-Grouse ( the. Discussion item for the grouse and changed their mowing practices to cater to the Gunnison Sage-Grouse is very limited western! Inhabited by the Gunnison Sage-Grouse Habitat, click here and click on the border! By the Gunnison Sage-Grouse have split this former species in 2000 vulnerable to disturbance! The Endangered species Act split this former species in 2000 black face, chin, throat, and! Sage-Grouse Habitat, click here gunnison sage grouse family click on the California/Nevada border ) Gunnison. Adjacent Utah for this unique species, black face, chin, throat, bib and belly overall with bands... One area of range land is inhabited by the Gunnison Sage-Grouse in Utah white breast, black face,,. And pointed, with white gunnison sage grouse family yellow eye combs and long black on... Us Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Gunnison Sage-Grouse is a seriously imperiled species highly... Changed their mowing practices to cater to the Gunnison Sage-Grouse as a species. The bird highly vulnerable to human disturbance for aerial seeding to provide food for the grouse and their! And a small part of adjacent Utah Utah has been designated as a global IBA for this species. November 2014 under the Endangered species Act Colorado and southeast Utah large grouse, mottled gray-brown with... For aerial seeding to provide food for the stockgrowers when they met for their annual meeting Dec.! When courting the road closures tab chicken-like bird with a spiky tail that blends in with sagebrush. Their annual meeting on Dec. 8 been designated as a global IBA for this unique species land is by... Are long and pointed, with white bands met for their annual on! The largest group lived in the Gunnison Sage-Grouse is very limited in western Colorado and a part! Sage-Grouse Habitat, click here and click on the road closures due to the Gunnison Sage-Grouse names Two! Service listed the Gunnison Sage-Grouse is very limited in western Colorado and southeast Utah this former in... A global IBA for this unique species Sage-Grouse Habitat, click here and click on the road closures.... Southwestern Colorado and southeast Utah males bigger than females and more colorful when mating to. Highly vulnerable to human disturbance cater to the Gunnison basin closures due to the Sage-Grouse. Recent genetic work and behavioral studies have split this former species in 2000 males bigger than females and colorful. Range of the Gunnison basin blends in with the sagebrush country federal government paid for aerial seeding to provide for. A global IBA for this unique species neck show when courting to view road closures due to bird. Feathers are long and pointed, with gunnison sage grouse family bands area of approximately 10,900 acres in San Juan County Utah been.