Lagopus

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iLagopus

Ptarmigan L. mutus

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Galliformes
Family:	Tetraonidae
Genus:	Lagopus Brisson, 1760

Species

L. mutus
L. lagopus
L. leucurus

Lagopus is a small genus of birds in the grouse family. It comprises three species:

Willow Grouse (Willow Ptarmigan in North America), Lagopus lagopus
Ptarmigan (Rock Ptarmigan in North America), Lagopus mutus
White-tailed Ptarmigan, Lagopus leucurus

The distinctive British form of Willow Grouse, the Red Grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus) has sometimes been considered a separate species, L. scoticus, but this is no longer accepted.

The three species are all specialists of cold regions. Willow Grouse is a circumpolar boreal forest species, White-tailed Ptarmigan is an North American alpine bird, and Ptarmigan breeds in both arctic and mountain habitats across Eurasia and North America. They are sedentary species, all, with the exception of the Red Grouse, having a white winter plumage that helps them blend into the snowy background

These are hardy vegetarian birds, but insects are also taken by the developing young. The female takes all responsibility for nesting and caring for the chicks, as is typical with gamebirds.

The genus name Lagopus (from the Greek for "hare" and "foot") refers to the feathered legs typical of this cold-adapted group.