Willow ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus
Identification Tips:
Length: 13 inches
Medium-sized, stocky, round-winged, chicken-like bird
Squarish black tail
Small black bill
Legs and toes feathered ...
Willow Ptarmigan
Lagopus lagopus
Protective coloration plays an important part in the life cycle of the Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus). The photo shown here shows the species during summer.
Willow Ptarmigan Behaviour
No observations regarding Willow Ptarmigan behavior have been submitted to the database yet.
Interesting Facts about Willow Ptarmigans ...
WILLOW PTARMIGAN.--WILLOW GROUSE
[Willow Ptarmigan.]
(State Bird of Alaska)
LAGOPUS ALBUS, Gmel.
[Lagopus lagopus.] ...
The Willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) is a medium-sized (16 inch) stocky grouse, chickenlike, with a black tail and bill, the legs and toes are feathered.
9. Willow Ptarmigans (Alaska state bird) ...taken from an open bus window in Denali National Park
10. Northern Pintail and Canada Goose at Potter Marsh south of Anchorage
11. Northern Pintail ...
The willow ptarmigan can be found in the tundra and in thickets with alder and willow trees.
Diet
In the summer, the willow ptarmigan eats flowers, buds and insects. In the winter, it eats twigs and buds from willows and alders.
Lagopus lagopus - Willow Ptarmigan
Lagopus mutus - Rock Ptarmigan
Tetrao
Tetrao tetrix - Northern Black Grouse (photo)
Tetrao mlokosiewiczi - Caucasian Black Grouse
Tetrao urogallus - Capercaillie (photo) ...
The tetraonids include the ptarmigans--the willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus, and the rock ptarmigan, L. mutus, in Arctic regions; and the white-tailed ptarmigan, L. leucurus, in the high Rockies.
Alaska - Willow ptarmigan
Arizona - Cactus wren
Arkansas - Mockingbird
California - California valley quail (Lophortyx californica)
Colorado - Prairie Lark-Finch
Connecticut - Robin
Delaware - Blue hen chicken
Florida - Mockingbird ...
There are three species: the rock, white-tailed, and willow ptarmigans. The red ptarmigan was once considered a seperate species, but now is considered a subspecies of the willow ptarmigan. All of the species are circumpolar.
Willow Ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus
Rock Ptarmigan, Lagopus muta
Black-billed Capercaillie, Tetrao parvirostris
Capercaillie, Tetrao urogallus
Black Grouse, Tetrao tetrix
Caucasian Grouse, Tetrao mlokosiewiczi
Hazel Grouse, Bonasa bonasia ...
Willow Grouse or Willow Ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus
Red Grouse Lagopus (lagopus) scoticus
Ptarmigan or Rock Ptarmigan, Lagopus mutus
White-tailed Ptarmigan, Lagopus leucura ...
Red Grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus)
(aka Willow Grouse, Willow Ptarmigan)
Scotland ...
small mammals [104] such as mice (Muridae) [158], lemmings (Lemmus, Synaptomys, Dicrostonyx spp.) [41,91,158,159], and voles (Myodes spp.) [16,51,159], small fish [16], bird (Aves) eggs [104,158,159], and nesting birds such as willow ptarmigan ...
Even with a poor driver you can expect to see the big mammals. One special thrill was seeing a Grizzly Bear nursing 3 cubs very close to the road. From the bus I saw:Willow Ptarmigan and Rock Ptarmigan.
 See also: Ptarmigan, Grouse, Turkey, Spruce grouse, Purple
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