White-Tailed Ptarmigan

     The White-Tailed Ptarmigan, also commonly known as the ‘Snow Quail’, is the smallest bird in the Grouse family. It typically grows to 30 – 34 cm in length, which is slightly shorter than the Hazel Grouse. The White-Tailed Ptarmigan is a permanent resident of high altitudes above the tree line in Alaska. It also inhabits the mountainous parts of Canada and the western United States.

     As other Ptarmigan species, the White-Tailed Ptarmigan has two morphs. During the summer, the male is mostly greyish-brown, with broad band of black markings across the chest. While, the female White-Tailed Ptarmigan shows finely barred plumage, with yellowish tint contrasting with black or dark brown. Both sexes have white underparts, tails and wings. In the winter, the White-Tailed Ptarmigan is completely white with black eyes and bill. Male birds can be identified by their reddish eye wattles that are present year-long.

     The White-Tailed Ptarmigan closely resembles its cousins; the Willow Ptarmigan and the Rock Ptarmigan. It mainly differs in being smaller and having more finely-barred greyish coloration on the back in its summer morph. In the winter, the White-Tailed Ptarmigan is white as the Willow and the Rock Ptarmigans. But the latter two species differ in having black outer tail feathers, while the White-Tailed Ptarmigan is completely white.

     The White-Tailed Ptarmigan breeds in the spring, with nesting occurring as the snow melts, usually in early to mid-June. The females will typically lay one clutch of 4 to 8 eggs, which are incubated for 22 – 26 days. Young White-Tailed Ptarmigans usually reach full size at 12 – 14 weeks and the brood gradually breaks up in fall. Also, there are 5 subspecies for this bird which are distributed across its finding range.