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    Willow ptarmigan

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    Most common of the Galliformes in the wild habituating subarctic Tundra can tolerate brutally cold winters

    Yathin S Krishnappa

    The most diverse of the three species of ptarmigan, the Willow ptarmigan was adopted as the state bird of Alaska in 1955. It is a medium-large-sized ground-dwelling territorial bird. Their feet are heavily feathered to walk over deep snow. They dwell in deep burrows in the snow to take shelter and escape from enemies. The diet consists of a wide variety of seasonal food, and flocks can have 2200 birds where the food is plentiful.

    It is the only grouse that aids females in raising young ones.
    Willow ptarmigans are classified as species of “Least concern” due to the presence of birds in large numbers. The population is slightly decreasing, whereas over forty million birds are still present.

    Distribution

    Country
    Population est.
    Status
    Year
    Comments
    Belarus
    2016
    Belgium
    2016
    Breeding
    Canada
    2016
    Breeding
    China
    2016
    Breeding
    Czechia
    2016
    Estonia
    2016
    Faroe Islands
    2016
    Breeding
    Finland
    2016
    Germany
    2016
    Breeding
    Ireland
    2016
    Kazakhstan
    2016
    Breeding
    Latvia
    2016
    Lithuania
    2016
    Mongolia
    2016
    Breeding
    Norway
    2016
    Breeding
    Poland
    2016
    Non-Breeding
    Russia
    2016
    Breeding: Eastern Asian Russia
    Saint Pierre
    0
    Official estimate
    EX
    2016
    Extinct locally, Introduced
    Spain
    2016
    Non-Breeding
    Sweden
    2016
    United Kingdom
    2016
    United States
    2016
    Breeding

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    Get to know me

    Terrestrial / Aquatic

    Altricial / Precocial

    Polygamous / Monogamous

    Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

    Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

    Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd / Flock

    Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

    Migratory: Yes / No

    Domesticated: Yes / No

    Dangerous: Yes / No

    EXEWCRENVUNTLCDDNE
    Least Concern(IUCN)
    World Population >40,000,000

    Decreasing by 30-49% in 12 years in the EU population

    Added by BioDB
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    Threats

    Habitat destruction / Climate change / Freshwater pollution / Marine pollution / Deforestation / Farming / Fishing practices / Poaching & wildlife trade / Invasive species / Parasites & diseases / Noise pollution / Light pollution

    My ID

    Scientific name: Lagopus lagopus Other names:

    Willow grouse
    Red grouse

     Number of subspecies: 16 Name of subspecies:

    L. l. alascensis
    L. l. alba
    L. l. alexandrae
    L. l. alleni
    L. l. brevirostris
    L. l. koreni
    L. l. kozlowae
    L. l. lagopus
    L. l. leucoptera
    L. l. maior
    L. l. okadai
    L. l. rossica
    L. l. scotica
    L. l. sserebrowsky
    L. l. ungavuas
    L. l. variegata

    Physical traits

    Length: 35 – 44 cm (14 – 17 in) Weight: 430 – 810 g (15 – 29 oz) Lifespan: 9 years When species evolved: Pliocene (Neogene) Species evolved years ago: 5 – 2.6 mya Wingspan: 60 – 65 cm (24 – 26 in) Eggs: 4 – 10 eggs
    Habitats: Forest Shrubland Savannah/Grassland Tundra
    Regions: Asia Europe North America
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