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GrasslandScrapeLarge · 567 g
What the Willow Ptarmigan sounds like
ID tip
The willow ptarmigan is a medium to large, ground-dwelling bird and is the most numerous of the three species of ptarmigan. Males and females are about the same size, with the adult length varying between 35 and 44 cm (14 and 17 in) with a wingspan ranging from 60 to 65 cm (24 to 26 in). Its weight is 430 to 810 g (15 to 29 oz). It is deep-chested and has a fairly long neck, a broad bill, short, feathered legs, and a moderately short, rounded tail. In the summer, the male's plumage is marbled brown, with a reddish hue to the neck and breast, a black tail, and white wings and underparts.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Willow Ptarmigan
One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 6 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is August, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Willow Ptarmigan
The map shades 17 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 St. Pierre & Miquelon.
About the Willow Ptarmigan
The willow ptarmigan is a bird in the grouse tribe Tetraonini of the pheasant family Phasianidae. It is also known as the willow grouse. The willow ptarmigan breeds in birch and other forests and moorlands in northern Europe, the tundra of Scandinavia, Siberia, Alaska, and Canada, in particular in the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec. It is the state bird of Alaska.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Rock PtarmiganLagopus mutaThe 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).
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.
Side by side: Rock Ptarmigan vs Willow Ptarmigan · White-tailed Ptarmigan vs Willow Ptarmigan
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