Bird
Rock Ptarmigan
Lagopus mutaAlso known as Snow Grouse, Aqiggiq, Raicho, Alpine Ptarmigan
Rock ptarmigans are arctic and alpine grouse that master camouflage by changing feather color from mottled brown in summer to pure white in winter. Fully feathered toes act as natural snowshoes and protect their feet while digging through frozen snowpack for birch and willow buds. During spring courtship, males perform dramatic aerial displays while making rasping, frog-like calls across barren mountain slopes.
ArcticCamouflagedAlpine
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyWillow Buds, Birch Catkins, Alpine Berries
Predators
- Gyrfalcon
- Arctic Fox
- Golden Eagle
ThreatsClimate change, habitat alteration, and severe weather events
HabitatsArctic tundra, rocky alpine ridges, and high-latitude mountains
Life span3–6 years
Classification
- FamilyPhasianidae
- SpeciesLagopus muta
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observe from afar: Give feeding birds space during harsh winter conditions when energy conservation is vital.
- Watch for camouflage: Look for black outer tail feathers or winter eye stripes against snow slopes.
- Stick to trails: Avoid stepping on fragile alpine vegetation where females build concealed ground nests.
Predator (c) psweet, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by psweet · cc-by-sa
Predator Jonathen Pie https://unsplash.com/@r3dmax / CC0 · cc0
Close Relative Yathin S Krishnappa / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Braden J. Judson · cc0
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