male summer

male summer male winter European distribution Winter adults feeding

Identification

Their plumages change to match the conditions in each season. In winter they are snowy white apart from black in the tail, a black eye and a black bill. The male also has red wattles above the eyes and black lores between the eyes on the bill. As spring proceeds, the birds acquire grey feathers, making them a mottled patchwork of grey and white. By high summer they look mostly granite grey apart from a white belly and, in flight, white wings which immediately separate them from the Red Grouse, but not the more similar Willow Grouse. To distinguish between these species look for the greyer, blotchier plumage of a Ptarmigan in summer, the black loral line of the male in winter and the generally smaller head and bill at all times.

Habitat

Breeds and winters on mountainous uplands.

Behaviour

The plumage changes with the seasons, grey and brown in summer, all white in winter and a mixture of the two during transition stages. Some Arctic populations deposit a layer of fat under their skin to keep them warm in winter and also to use as a spare supply of energy if feeding becomes impossible.

Migration

Sedentary, although some populations make altitudinal movements, coming down from the highest peaks except in summer. Some Icelandic birds have been shown to move up to 300 km from their breeding areas. In autumn, birds may move a few kilometres each day between their feeding and roosting areas.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Ptarmigan is classed as Local: generally fairly regular or common species that a 'county lister' or a birding beginner might be interested in going to see. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Cairn Gorm, Highland 27/04/2008	Glenshee Ski Centre, Aberdeenshire 25/01/2010	Glen Shee, Perth/Kinross 25/01/2010	Flaine, Haute-Savoie, Rhône-Alpes, France 19/10/2007	Langavatnsdalur, Iceland 28/05/2009
Valais, Switzerland 07/06/2006	Valais, Valais, Switzerland 07/06/2006	Cairn Gorm, Highland 10/05/2009	Cairn Gorm, Highland 06/08/2009	Cairn Gorm, Highland 06/08/2009

 View all pictures of Ptarmigan

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Ptarmigan breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Andorra
Austria
Britain
Finland
France
Germany
Greenland
Iceland
Italy
Lichtenstein
Norway
Russia
Slovenia
Spain
Svalbard
Sweden
Switzerland

http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob3300.htm   BTO BirdFacts: Ptarmigan	Edit this link
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