Willow Ptarmigan

     The Willow Ptarmigan, also known as the Willow Grouse, is a sedentary Grouse species that occupies sub-alpine and subarctic habitats. It has a very large distribution range that covers northern Eurasia, the tundra of Scandinavia, Siberia, Alaska and northern Canada. The Willow Ptarmigan is also the most numerous of the three species of Ptarmigans (the others are the Rock Ptarmigan and the White-Tailed Ptarmigan).

    The Willow Ptarmigan is a moderate-sized gamebird, with a fairly long neck, and a moderately short rounded tail. As other Ptarmigan species, it has two morphs. In the summer, the male Willow Ptarmigan’s plumage is marbled-brown, with a reddish hue to the neck and the breast. His tail is black, while the wings and the underparts are white. The male Willow Ptarmigan has also wattles above his eyes, which become red and prominent in the breeding season. The female is similar in appearance but she lacks the prominent wattles, is duller in color with more fine barrings, and has brown feathers scattered among the white feathers on the belly. During winter, both sexes of the Willow Ptarmigan become completely white, except for some black feathers in the tail. 

     The Willow Ptarmigan is closely related to the Rock Ptarmigan and the White-Tailed Ptarmigan. It can be differentiated from the Rock Ptarmigan by its larger size, thicker bill, browner summer plumage and the lack of the black stripe between the eyes and bill in its winter form. The White-Tailed Ptarmigan differs in being smaller, having a white tail and finely-barred greyer plumage.

     The breading season of the Willow Ptarmigan usually starts in April and May. Females lay between 6 to 10 eggs per clutch, in a shallow depression on the ground and incubate them for about 3 weeks. Unlike most grouse species, the male Willow Ptarmigan helps with feeding the brood and protecting them.

     There are up to 19 subspecies for the Willow Ptarmigan that mostly have little differences in appearance. The Willow Ptarmigan is also the state bird of Alaska.