Willow Ptarmigan

Willow Ptarmigan, male, breeding plumage

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Willow Ptarmigan, adults, nonbreeding plumage

Willow Ptarmigan, female, breeding plumage

Willow Ptarmigan, female, breeding plumage; Churchill, Manitoba.

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

A typical bird of the arctic tundra, the Willow Ptarmigan is the largest and most numerous of the three ptarmigan species.

Description

Medium to large chicken-like bird. Thick bodied. Tail moderately short, rounded, and black. Completely white in winter. Barred rusty brown in summer. Wings white.

• Size: 35-44 cm (14-17 in)
• Wingspan: 60-65 cm (24-26 in)
• Weight: 430-810 g (15.18-28.59 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes similar, especially in winter when both are all white with black tails. Breeding male with rufous-brown head and neck, white body, and distinct red eye combs; back eventually becomes brown and barred. Breeding female brown all over with dark barring, and with less distinct eye combs.

Sound

Clucking calls. Male in display makes odd, nasal barking notes and rattles.

Conservation Status

Common and widespread.

Other Names

Le Lagopéde des saules (French)
Willow Grouse (British), Red Grouse (part) (English)

Cool Facts

• The subspecies of Willow Ptarmigan living in Great Britain is known as the "Red Grouse." It does not change its coloring in the winter, but remains entirely reddish brown throughout the year.

• The Willow Ptarmigan is the only grouse in the world in which the male is regularly involved in parental care. Pairs remain together from the beginning of the breeding season until their chicks are independent.

Sources used to construct this page:

Hannon, S. J., P. K. Eason, and K. Martin. 1998. Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus). In The Birds of North America, No. 369 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.