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White-tailed Ptarmigan
Lagopus leucura
At a Glance
Far above timberline in mountains of the west lives this elusive little ptarmigan, the smallest member of the grouse family in North America. While the other ptarmigan are strictly northern, this one follows the cordillera of the high Rockies as far south as New Mexico. Easily overlooked, it may crouch motionless as hikers pass close by.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Pheasants and Grouse, Upland Ground Birds
Conservation
Low Concern
Habitat
High Mountains, Tundra and Boreal Habitats
Region
Alaska and The North, California, Northwest, Rocky Mountains, Southwest, Western Canada
Behavior
Flushes, Rapid Wingbeats, Running
Population
2.000.000
Range & Identification
Migration & Range Maps
Most birds move to slightly lower elevation in winter, with some traveling as much as 14 miles from summer to winter range. Females tend to move farther than males.
Description
12-13" (30-33 cm). Similar to other ptarmigan, but smaller. Has white tail feathers, not black (but this is hard to see except in flight). In Alaska and northwest Canada, usually lives at higher elevations than its relatives, and this is the only ptarmigan found south of Canada in the west.
Size
About the size of a Crow, About the size of a Robin
Color
Black, Brown, Red, White
Wing Shape
Fingered, Rounded
Tail Shape
Rounded, Short, Square-tipped
Songs and Calls
High-pitched "creaking" notes and soft low clucks.
Call Pattern
Flat, Undulating
Call Type
Chirp/Chip, Scream
Habitat
Rocky alpine tundra; mountains above timberline. Summers above timberline, on rocky slopes with low vegetation (a few inches tall), or damp alpine meadows near streams or snowfields. Sometimes in stunted growth just below timberline. Elevations from under 4,000' in Alaska to almost 14,000' in Colorado. In winter often moves slightly lower, to areas where willows and other plants extend above snow.
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Behavior
Eggs
2-8, usually about 5. Pale cinnamon, spotted with dark brown. Incubation is by female only, 22-26 days.
Young
Downy chicks leave nest a few hours after hatching. Female tends young and leads them to food, but young feed themselves. If danger threatens brood, female puts on distraction display, running in zigzags with wings dragging. Young can fly at 10-12 days, reach full size at 12-14 weeks. Brood gradually breaks up in fall, young birds joining winter flocks.
Feeding Behavior
Forages while walking, nipping off pieces of plants with bill. Feeds in flocks at most times of year (from late summer through winter).
Diet
Mostly buds, leaves, twigs, and seeds. Adults are almost entirely vegetarian, feeding on all parts of low alpine plants, especially buds, twigs, and leaves of willows. Also favors birch, alder, sedges, crowberry, and others. Very young chicks eat mostly insects at first, soon switching to more plants. Regularly swallows grit to help with digesting rough plant material.
Nesting
For breeding season, males and females defend individual territories. In courtship display, male raises red combs above eyes, spreads tail, struts and bows. Male usually remains with female until sometime during incubation. Nest site is on ground, usually in rocky area, matted willow thicket, or sedge meadow. Nest (built by female) is shallow depression lined with plant material, with a few feathers added.
Climate Vulnerability
Conservation Status
Most of habitat is remote from human disturbance, so still present in most of original range. Has been introduced into new sites including some in Oregon, California, and Utah.