Colorado Grouse

Greater Sage-Grouse © Brian Gibbons

Centered on the unique and wonderful mating displays of five species of grouse, this tour also takes in the scenic beauty, birds, and wildlife from all four corners of Colorado. Incredible scenery and close looks at incomparable grouse displays.

Five species of grouse inhabit the prairies and inter-mountain valleys of North America: the Greater and Gunnison sage-grouse, Sharp-tailed Grouse, and the Greater and Lesser prairie-chickens. All are noted for their spectacular mating displays, and all can be exceedingly difficult to find away from their leks or display grounds. From the sandhills of western Kansas to the high sagebrush parklands in the mountains of Colorado, we will see some of the most fascinating rituals in the bird world: the booming of the prairie-chickens, the wild dance of the Sharp-tails, and the strutting of the huge sage-grouse.

Around reservoirs we may be treated to side by side views of Clark’s and Western grebes, Snowy Plovers, trees full of colorful Yellow-headed Blackbirds, and such western specialties as Pinyon Jay and Juniper Titmouse. In the mountains we often encounter lingering flocks of all three species of Rosy-Finches.

In west central Colorado, beautiful canyons shade streamside cottonwood groves where Lewis’s Woodpeckers reside. In the prairies, towns of Black-tailed Prairie Dogs also support nesting Burrowing Owls, and grasslands are home to Cassin’s and Grasshopper sparrows. We will bird the Pawnee National Grassland, a vast expanse of shortgrass prairie where Ferruginous Hawk, Mountain Plover, and Thick-billed and Chestnut-collared longspurs all nest.

Though the high mountains are still under snow, the lower forests are accessible. Here we may find Golden Eagle, Dusky Grouse, Williamson’s and Red-naped sapsuckers, Mountain Bluebird, Cassin’s Finch, and many other montane species. White-tailed Ptarmigan has been found on seven of the last ten tours, and we will try to track down this cryptic bird at 12,000 feet, weather permitting. Mammal viewing should be excellent throughout the trip, and the mountain scenery is breathtaking.

Good accommodations and food; easy to moderate terrain, elevation 3,500-12,000 ft; long drives; several very early starts; cold to mild climate, with potential for snowy weather. Among the array of nice restaurants we visit throughout the tour, please note that restaurant options/quality are limited at times throughout smaller towns.

Greater Prairie-Chicken © Brian Gibbons