Rock Ptarmigan
Lagopus muta
The rock ptarmigan is 34–36 cm (13–14 in) long with an 8 cm (3.1 in) tail and with a wingspan of 54–60 cm (21–24 in) and a weight of 440–640 g (15.5–22.6 oz). It is about ten percent smaller than the willow ptarmigan. The rock ptarmigan is camouflaged to match the seasons; its feathers moult from white in winter to grey and brown in spring or summer. The breeding male has greyish upper parts with white wings and underparts. In winter, its plumage becomes completely white except for the black outer tail feathers and eye line.
ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
White-tailed Ptarmigan
Lagopus leucura
The white-tailed ptarmigan is the smallest of the ptarmigans and the smallest bird in the grouse tribe. It is a stocky bird with rounded wings, square-ended tail, small black beak and short legs with feathering extending to the toes. Adults are 31 to 34 centimetres (12 to 13 in) long, with the males being only slightly larger than the females. The average weight is 325 grams (11.5 oz). During the summer, the white-tailed ptarmigan is a speckled grayish brown with white underparts, tail and wings.
ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Where you might meet both
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Play today's Daily BirdPhotos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Rock Ptarmigan and White-tailed Ptarmigan.