Rock Ptarmigan

Rock PtarmiganLagopus mutus

The adult rock ptarmigan is a medium sized, stocky, round-winged Arctic bird that stands about 15 inches tall and looks like a small grouse or pheasant. The female Rock Ptarmigan is slightly smaller than males. In the winter they are pure white except for their black eyes, black bill and a black stripe between the eyes and bill that is present in both sexes all year. Both the male and female ptarmigan have stripes with brown and black markings in summer with a white belly and wings. Their square shaped tail and beak are black. Also the male has a red comb over its eyes. Males and some females have black eyeliner. Birders distinguish the Rock Ptarmigan from the plumage of the White-tailed Ptarmigan by its black, not white, tail. Male Willow Ptarmigans have a redder plumage.

Males cast off the white plumage in the breeding season later than the females. This is part of the courting ritual. This also leads ~o a higher death rate of males by the predatory gyrfalcons. Females are nearly invisible against the tundra in the summer time. All ptarmigans have feet covered with hair like feathers. This provides the birds with built in snow shoes so they can walk on light and fluffy snow without sinking and increases insulation for these birds.

Birders and hunters find The Rock Ptarmigan in barren, rocky regions of the Arctic tundra of Canada, Scandinavia, Russia, Finland and Greenland near the areas of permanent snow. Also birders see the ptarmigan in southern areas in Japan, Switzerland, and Spain.

The adult ptarmigans prefer vegetables in summer eating a mix of different plant materials like blueberries, horse tail tips, crow berries, mountain plants of the rose family and the heads of sedges. Winter food consists mostly of buds and catkins of small birch, and some willow buds and twigs. The immature ptarmigans feed heavily on insects, spiders, and snails.

The birds build their nest on the ground in a shallow scraped out hole by a bare rocky outcrop. They line the nest with some feathers and plant material. Because they need some overhead protection from flying predators they place the nest near a large rock.

After mating and nest building the female ptarmigan incubates seven to ten eggs alone. Normally the Rock Ptarmigan has only one brood each year and incubation typically lasts three weeks. Within twenty-four hours the chicks leave the nest. As soon as the young birds leave the nest they begin to feed themselves. About ten days after hatching the young birds can fly and go on their own independent way in ten to twelve weeks

The rock ptarmigan sometimes leaves the highland nesting ground behind in winter. They migrate south in flocks to the low land wintering grounds never leaving the tundra. In winter the ptarmigans form single sex groups. In the spring time the flocks move to the breeding grounds and courting begins. Then males pick and energetically protect big areas. Rapid flying chases occur with much vocalization when another bird trespasses on the male's territory. The aerial courtship display has elaborate song flights. This starts when the male leaps into the air and begins flapping his wings. Then the male flies straight up until he stops flapping his wings. Then he spreads his tail and parachutes to the ground, making a sound from his throat of short guttural bursts.

When courting the female, the male ptarmigan circles the female dragging one wing on the ground, fanning the tail, and elevating the red eye combs.

The Rock Ptarmigan chooses his winter habitat on a bush covered slope near the timberline, where small vegetative plant pokes through snow. Males prefer lofty habitats, while the females pursue areas with more cover. During the spring and summer months the male birds choose sparsely covered territory in stunted bushes with many stony view points to keep watch for other intruding ptarmigans. The young birds prefer swales and ridges with dense brush. This give the chicks an opportunity to fly behind this brush to escape danger.

What is the economic importance of the Ptarmigan? It is posittve because the Rock Ptarmigan, a popular game bird provides both food and sport for residents of the Alaskan Tundra.

The Rock Ptarmigan is scarce near Arctic settlements, but bountiful across huge areas of tundra. The birders of Iceland documented an event known for great population fluctuations following a ten year cycle.

If you would like to view some Postage Stamps that honor the Rock Ptarmigan, SEE- http://www.bird-stamps.org/cspecies/3600...