Ptarmigan

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iPtarmigan

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Galliformes
Family:	Tetraonidae
Genus:	Lagopus
Species:	L. muta

Binomial name

Lagopus muta
(Montin, 1781)

(This article concerns the European species named "Ptarmigan" known in North America as the Rock Ptarmigan. See individual listings for the 2 other species of "ptarmigan"-Willow Ptarmigan(North American name)/Willow Grouse(European name) and White-tailed Ptarmigan)

The Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta or mutus, is a small (31–35 cm long) bird in the grouse family. It is a sedentary species, breeding across arctic and subarctic Eurasia and North America (including Greenland) on rocky mountainsides and tundra. There are isolated populations in the mountains of Scotland, the Pyrenees, the Alps, Bulgaria, the Urals, the Pamir Mountains, the Altay Mountains, and Japan.

In North America it is called the Rock Ptarmigan, or colloquially Snow Chicken. This is the official bird for the territory of Nunavut, Canada.

Breeding males have greyish upperparts with white wings and underparts. In winter, plumage becomes completely white except for the black tail. They can be distinguished from the winter Willow Grouse (Willow Ptarmigan in North America) by habitat- Rock Ptarmigan/Ptarmigan prefer higher elevations and more barren habitat than Willow Ptarmigan/Willow Grouse. Rock Ptarmigan/Ptarmigan are also smaller in size, and have a more delicate bill.

The male's song is a loud croaking.

Ptarmigan feed primarily on birch and willow buds and catkins when available. They will also take various seeds,leaves, flowers and berries of other plant species. Insects are also taken by the developing young.

The ptarmigan is capable of camouflaging itself by changing the color of its feathers to blend with its surroundings. The feathers can be white in winter or brown in spring or summer.

The word ptarmigan comes from the Scottish Gaelic tàrmachan, which may be related to torm "murmur". The silent initial p was added in the 17th century through the influence of Greek, especially pteron, Greek for "wing".

[edit] Scientific name

The Ptarmigan's genus name, Lagopus comes from the Greek lagos, meaning "hare", and pus, meaning foot. It refers to the bird's feathered legs. The species name mutus comes from Latin and means "mute", referring to the loud croaking song of the male.

[edit] References

	Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lagopus muta

BirdLife International (2004). Lagopus muta. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern