The fossil was found in Early Cretaceous (121-125 million years ago) rocks in Liaoning Province, China.

The genus was described on January 9, 2013, in an article that was published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology by Jingmai Kathleen O'Connor, Yuguang Zhang, Luis Maria Chiappe, Qingjin Meng, Li Quanguo and Liu Di.

The species name is to honour the Gee family from La Cañada (US) "because of their generous contributions to the research of Mesozoic birds".

[1] The holotype of Sulcavis geeorum was prepared by Maureen Walsh at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, USA.

[1] Confuciusornithiformes Omnivoropterygiformes Euornithes Protopteryx fengningensis Elsornis keni Boluochia zhengi Longipteryx chaoyangensis Eocathayornis walkeri Rapaxavis pani Longirostravis hani Shanweiniao cooperorum Shenqiornis mengi Iberomesornis romerali Otogornis genghisi Sulcavis geeorum Pengornis houi Neuquenornis volans Gobipteryx minuta Vescornis hebeiensis Eoenantiornis buhleri Eoalulavis hoyasi Liaoningornis longidigitris Cathayornis Concornis lacustris