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GrasslandScrapeLarge · 535 g
ID tip
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.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Rock Ptarmigan
One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 7 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is June, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Rock Ptarmigan
The map shades 20 countries with regular records, and 1 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Spain.
About the Rock Ptarmigan
The rock ptarmigan is a medium-sized game bird in the grouse tribe. It is known simply as the ptarmigan in Europe. It is the official bird for the Canadian territory of Nunavut, where it is known as the aqiggiq (ᐊᕿᒡᒋᖅ), and the official game bird for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. In Japan, it is known as the raichō (雷鳥), which means "thunder bird"; it is the official bird of Gifu, Nagano, and Toyama Prefectures and is a protected species nationwide.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
White-tailed PtarmiganLagopus leucuraThe white-tailed ptarmigan is the smallest of the ptarmigans and the smallest bird in the grouse tribe.
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaThe red grouse is distinguished from the willow grouse and rock ptarmigan by its reddish brown plumage being present all year, lacking any white winter plumage or white wing feathers.
Willow PtarmiganLagopus lagopusThe willow ptarmigan is a medium to large, ground-dwelling bird and is the most numerous of the three species of ptarmigan.
Side by side: Rock Ptarmigan vs Willow Ptarmigan · Rock Ptarmigan vs White-tailed Ptarmigan
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