Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Gunnison Sage-Grouse
Scientific name:	Centrocercus minimus
Date:	04/04/25
Time:	6:31 AM
Length of time observed:	roughly 2 hours
Number:	3
Age:	adults
Sex:	males
Location:	Monticello
County:	San Jaun
Latilong:
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	30 ft
Optical equipment:	vortex 10 x 50, nikon camera with 500mm lens, leupold 25-60 x 85
Weather:	clear calm
Light Conditions:	early morning light into mid morning light
Description: Size of bird:	large grouse
(Description:) Basic Shape:
(Description:) Overall Pattern:
(Description:) Bill Type:
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	large grouse on territory lekking. all three males, two seen, and one heard simultaneously. no females seen. overall brown and drab aside from black neck, and white frontal display feathers. raised tail contrasted with white barring, and large filoplumes overhead. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	quick bubbly display calls heard all morning.
Behavior:	display/lekking on an east facing hillslope first thing in the morning. Im told these birds prefer to lek on a hillside facing the sun in the morning. Im not sure how consistent this is, but it held true for this sighting.
Habitat:	extensive short sage brush fields near juniper/pinyon forests and hilly terrain.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	GRSG - aside from the difference in range, GUSG had a quicker, more bubbly display call, brighter more contrasting white barring in the tail feathers, and large filoplumes overhead.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	this was a lifer for me, so no previous experience with GUSG. I've seen maybe 200-300 lekking GRSG.
References consulted:	Sibley, macauley library, Jeff Cooper.
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	McKay Olson
Observer's address:
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:
Date prepared:	10/23/2025
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	What an experience. I've heard rumors of there possibly only being a handful of these birds left in Utah. I'd be interested to know any reported numbers if there are any, from DNR or surveys. not seeing any females on the Lek was a bit disheartening, although hopefully just went undetected. all things considered, i was very happy to share a moment with this species and get some documentation. its worth noting that after getting photos, recordings, and videos, the birds continued displaying and were completely undisturbed.