Willow ptarmigan

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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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