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Willow Ptarmigan

Lagopus lagopusOrder: GALLIFORMES Family: Turkeys and Grouse (Phasianidae)
Codes: Common Name: WIPT Scientific Name: LAGLAG ITIS Taxonomic No.: 175804
Least Concern
 
Willow Ptarmigan: The winter adult Willow Ptarmigan is all white with dark-edged tail and small orange-red eye combs.
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Jelly Jar Jelly Feeder
The orange "blossum" replaces the lid of a jelly jar.
Attract Orioles with Fruit
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Hex shaped nectar feeds several Orioles. Nectar kept in fridge.
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Lovely copper umbrella keeps fruit cool and looks great.

Overview

Willow Ptarmigan: Small grouse, rust-brown upperparts, head, breast, white eye-ring, orange-red eye comb, white wings, belly, leg feathers; brown tail. Unlike other ptarmigans, the male stays with the female and defends its nest-it is known to attack anything that comes to close.

Range and Habitat

Willow Ptarmigan: Ranges from Alaska to Labrador and south to central British Columbia, northern Ontario, and central Quebec; also found in parts of northern Asia and Europe. Inhabits tundra and thickets with alder and willow trees.

Topo Map: Perching-like Body


Listen to Call

Voice Text

"go-back, go-back, go-back"

Interesting Facts

 The Willow Ptarmigan is called the Red Grouse in Britain. Unlike in North America, it does not turn white in winter there.

 In the winter they settle into snowbanks to sleep. By flying into the bank, rather than walking, they do not leave footprints and can avoid predation.

 It is the state bird of Alaska. This bird’s feet are heavy with feathers and serve as a sort of snowshoe.

 A group of ptarmigan have many collective nouns, including a "congregation", "covey", and "invisibleness" of ptarmigan.


Bird Term Glossary



Author

Gary Owen Dick

Artist

Irina Rud-Volga

Splitbar
Range Map for Willow Ptarmigan

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Family Grouse (Phasianidae)_blue
Species Lagopus lagopus
Length15 - 17 Inches
Wingspan21.25 Inches

Willow Ptarmigan

Willow Ptarmigan: Small grouse, rust-brown upperparts, head, breast, white eye-ring, orange-red eye comb, white wings, belly, leg feathers; brown tail. Unlike other ptarmigans, the male stays with the female and defends its nest-it is known to attack anything that comes to close.

● Song: "go-back, go-back, go-back"

● Foraging & Feeding: Willow Ptarmigan: Feeds on flowers, buds, and insects. Eats twigs and buds from willows and alders in the winter.

● Breeding & nesting: Willow Ptarmigan: Five to seventeen brown splotched, yellow eggs are laid in a ground hollow lined with feathers and grass. Incubation ranges from 21 to 22 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Willow Ptarmigan: White-tailed Ptarmigan has a white tail. Rock Ptarmigan is smaller, has black eye-line, and is more gray-brown than rust brown.

Flight Pattern

Swift short flight on rapidly beating wings.
Willow Ptarmigan Winter Male Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Willow Ptarmigan: Ranges from Alaska to Labrador and south to central British Columbia, northern Ontario, and central Quebec; also found in parts of northern Asia and Europe. Inhabits tundra and thickets with alder and willow trees.
BreedingMonogamous
PopulationAbundant to very common
MigrationMost do not migrate
Weight20.8 Ounces
Perching-like BodyX
UpperpartsX
Back, rump, hindneck, wings, and crown.
BellyX
The ventral part of the bird, or the area between the flanks on each side and the crissum and breast. Flight muscles are located between the belly and the breast.
BreastX
The upper front part of a bird.
CombX
Only found in male birds and consists of a colored area over the eye. A well developed comb can also signal (sexual) health to a potential mate.

4 and 6 letter alpha codesX

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

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ITIS CodesX

The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) was established in the mid-1990�s as a cooperative project among several federal agencies to improve and expand upon taxonomic data (known as the NODC Taxonomic Code) maintained by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

To find the ITIS page for a bird species go to the ITIS web site advanced search and report page at http://www.itis.gov/advanced_search.html. You can enter the TSN or the common name of the bird. It will return the ITIS page for that bird. Another way to obtain the ITIS page is to use the Google search engine. Enter the string ITIS followed by the taxonomic ID, for example "ITIS 178041" will return the page for the Allen's Hummingbird.

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Parts of a Standing birdX
Head Feathers and MarkingsX
Parts of a Flying birdX