The Columbian sharp-tailed grouse is one of seven subspecies of sharp-tailed grouse in North America. Among these subspecies, Columbian sharp-tailed grouse are the smallest.
Characteristics of Columbian sharp-tailed grouse are brownish-gray with many small buff and black markings, a white belly, and a long, mostly white, wedge-shaped tail.
Columbian sharp-tailed grouse depend on good habitats within sagebrush-bunchgrass, meadow-steppe, and mountain shrub. The availability of suitable habitat with deciduous trees and sage shrubs are a key element to healthy Columbian sharp-tailed grouse populations.
Overhunting with no regulation during the 19th century has contributed to population decline. Habitat degradation continues to threaten the remaining of birds.
I hope it is a good year for gusroe hunting in Minnesota. Spring drumming counts were up dramatically. We’ll find out soon if the birds are there. The family groups usually begin to disperse about now, and when the birds are spread out, hunters begin seeing more of them. The season opened this past Saturday, but I don’t get too worked up about it until some of the leaves begin to fall. I like to see my birds long enough to miss them a couple of times.