Rock Ptarmigan
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Lagopus muta
Population size
5-25 Mln
Life Span
2-4 years
Weight
440-640
15.5-22.6
goz
g oz 
Length
34-36
13.4-14.2
cminch
cm inch 
Wingspan
54-60
21.3-23.6
cminch
cm inch 

The Rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) is a medium-sized game bird in the grouse family. It is known simply as the ptarmigan in the UK. It is a protected species nationwide. Unlike many arctic inhabiting bird species, ptarmigan do not gain substantial mass to hibernate over winter.

Appearance

The Rock ptarmigan is seasonally camouflaged; its feathers molt from white in winter to brown in spring or summer. The breeding male has greyish upper parts with white wings and underparts. In winter, its plumage becomes completely white except for the black outer tail feathers and eye line. It can be distinguished from the winter Willow ptarmigan by habitat and markings - the Rock ptarmigan prefers higher elevations and a more barren habitat. It also has a slender bill and a black eye stripe, which is absent in the Willow ptarmigan.

Distribution

Geography

Rock ptarmigans are sedentary birds that breed across the Arctic and Subarctic Eurasia and North America (including Greenland). They are widespread in the Arctic Cordillera and are found in isolated populations in the mountains of Norway, Scotland, the Pyrenees, the Alps, Bulgaria, the Urals, the Pamir Mountains, the Altay Mountains, and Japan - where they occur only in the Japanese Alps and on Mount Haku. These birds live on rocky mountainsides and tundra without dense vegetation and brush.

Rock Ptarmigan habitat map

Climate zones

Rock Ptarmigan habitat map
Rock Ptarmigan
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Habits and Lifestyle

Rock ptarmigans are diurnal birds ground-dwelling birds. Outside of the breeding season, they live in flocks that may number in the dozens for protection, and female flocks live separately from male flocks. During the winter these flocks move from place to place according to snow conditions and food supply. Rock ptarmigan have a limited capacity for fat storage and in order to survive in their cold habitat, they must forage frequently. When not feeding the birds spend their time burrowing in snow, waiting out storms, and avoiding predators.

Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

Rock ptarmigans are herbivores and their diet can vary tremendously depending on the region of their distribution. In Alaska, they consume aspen buds, dwarf birch, and willow buds, and catkins. They transition their diets over to crowberries and shrubs during the spring. During early summer they eat leaves, flowers, berries, and seeds. Insects, larvae, and snails are eaten by chicks.

Mating Habits

MATING BEHAVIOR
REPRODUCTION SEASON
starts in spring
INCUBATION PERIOD
20-21 days
INDEPENDENT AGE
10-12 weeks
BABY NAME
chick
web.animal_clutch_size
6-12 eggs

Rock ptarmigans are usually monogamous and form pairs but some males may have multiple partners. The breeding season starts in spring and males become very territorial. During this time they emit a repertoire of guttural snores and rattles, most often directed to other males. On open leks, single or multiple males also carry out displays on the ground and in the air to assert their territory, including chasing other males on the wing. Physical conflicts between territorial males rarely occur. Aerial courtship rituals involve fast-forward flight with rapidly-beating wings followed by an upward glide, tail fanned out. The male, at the peak of the display, belts out a rasping "ah-AAH-ah-AAAAH-a-a-a-a-a-a!", with the sung latter part coinciding with a gliding descent afterwards. Females nest on the ground; they scratch out depressions and may line them with grass, moss, lichen, grass, and feathers. The clutch contains 6 to 12 eggs and is incubated by the female for 20-21 days. The chicks hatch well-developed and leave the nest within 12 hours after hatching. They are able to feed themselves but remain near their mother. Fledging typically occurs at 10 days after hatching and the young become independent when they are 10-12 weeks old. Reproductive maturity is attained at 6 months of age.

Population

Population threats

The main threats to Rock ptarmigans include habitat loss, overhunting, human disturbance, and changes in climate.

Population number

According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Rock ptarmigans is 5,000,000-24,999,999 mature individuals. The European population consists of 257,000-1,010,000 pairs, which equates to 514,000-2,020,000 mature individuals. National population estimates include less than around 100 breeding pairs in China; around 100-10,000 breeding pairs in Japan and around 100,000-1 million breeding pairs in Russia. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.

Fun Facts for Kids

  • The ptarmigan's genus name, Lagopus, is derived from the Ancient Greek 'lagos' (hare) and 'pous' (foot), in reference to the bird's feathered legs.
  • The word ptarmigan comes from the Scottish Gaelic 'tàrmachan', meaning 'croaker'.
  • In Japan, the Rock ptarmigan is known as the raichō, which means "thunder bird".
  • The Rock ptarmigan is the official territorial bird of Nunavut, Canada. It is also the official game bird of Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • The small population of the Rock ptarmigans living on Franz Josef Land in the Russian High Arctic overwinters during the polar night. There, they survive by feeding on rich vegetation on and underneath high cliffs where seabird colonies are located in summer.

References

1. Rock Ptarmigan on Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_ptarmigan
2. Rock Ptarmigan on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22679464/113623562
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/674768

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