White-tailed ptarmigan

White-tailed Ptarmigan, Lagopus leucura, is the smallest bird in the grouse family. It is found in the mountains of western United States, Canada and Alaska.

The White-tailed ptarmigan is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

White-tailed Ptarmigan, Lagopus leucura, is the smallest bird in the grouse family. It is found in the mountains of western United States, Canada and Alaska. More

White-tailed Ptarmigan Range MapView dynamic map of eBird sightings Field MarksHelp - * Adult nonbreedingPopOutZoom In Adult nonbreeding * © William L. Newton / CLO * Male breedingPopOutZoom In Male breeding * © Kevin T. More

The White-tailed Ptarmigan is an alpine species, a permanent resident of the high mountains above the timber line, during most of the year. It occupies open country and flies a great deal more than forest grouse, but still prefers running to flying. It ranges from Alaska and western Canada south to northern New Mexico. More

White-tailed Ptarmigan is an alpine species of western North America that reaches the extreme southern limit of its distribution in the high mountains of northern New Mexico. The state population may be vulnerable to local disturbance in some areas, and to long-term habitat and demographic changes associated with increasing temperatures. More

I last saw white-tailed ptarmigan in late August at Upper Rumble Lake in the Swan Range, which at 8,000 feet is the highest northwestern Montana lake that supports fish. A hen softly hooted as she shuffled her chicks through the boulders and alpine flowers near the lakeshore. Later that day in the alpine meadows above the lake, my son and I watched as a flock of about ten ptarmigan hopped from snow patch to flower patch. More

General DescriptionThe White-tailed Ptarmigan is a grouse of alpine (above treeline) habitats. It is the smallest grouse in North America (total length 30 to 31 cm, weight 295 to 440 grams), and the only species of grouse with white tail feathers. It possesses cryptic plumage that changes annually from white in winter to grayish-brown in summer. The sexes are similar in body size, shape, and winter plumage. More

White-tailed ptarmigan are true birds of the mountains. They live above timberline almost all year in the young mountain ranges of southcentral and southeastern Alaska, and many whitetails stay on the high slopes even in winter. In the breeding season they live in rugged country full of boulder fields, snowfields, glaciers, cliffs, and rockslides at higher altitudes than any other grouse or ptarmigan. This is the ptarmigan that Dall sheep hunters flush off high mountain peaks while stalking rams. More

The white-tailed ptarmigan is a small, pear-shaped grouse. It is a foot in length and is the smallest of the ptarmigans and the only ptarmigan with an all white tail. It is a mottled grayish-brown in summer and white in winter. It has white wings and a short, white tail. It has feathers on its legs and it has a small bill. Males and females look alike in winter. In breeding season, the male has a red comb over his eyes. More

The White-tailed Ptarmigan is the smallest grouse, and is found in mountainous regions of the western United States, Canada and Alaska. This is the only ptarmigan without any black plumage on the tail, hence its name. The preferred habitat for this species is alpine forests, living above the tree line. This bird prefers running on the ground to flying, and its range extends from Alaska and western Canada to northern New Mexico. More

* White-tailed ptarmigan (Lagopus leucurus), (top) as winter approaches, (bottom) in summer White-tailed ptarmigan (Lagopus leucurus), (top) as winter approaches, (bottom) in summerWhite-tailed ptarmigan (Lagopus leucurus), (top) as winter approaches, (bottom) in summer * * * REFERENCED IN * RELATED TO Aspects of the topic "white-tailed ptarmigan" are discussed in the following places at Britannica More

The white-tailed ptarmigan is found from southeastern Alaska and Yukon to northern Washington and Montana. It is also found in some parts of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and New Mexico. It has been introduced to the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California and the Uinta Mountains in Utah. Habitat The white-tailed ptarmigan lives in alpine meadows and rocky areas at or above the tree line. More

White-Tailed Ptarmigans are a type of grouse that lives in the north. Their appearance varies with the season, which can make them difficult to identify. Here's what to look for so you can spot one. Difficulty: ModerateInstructions 1. Step 1 Learn about the habitat and range of this alpine bird. They live in the Canadian Rocky Mountains and in parts of the Rocky Mountains in the United States. More

Erroneous second-hand reports of White-tailed Ptarmigan in Bendire (1892) and Saunders (1921) were perpetuated well into the 20th century (e.g., Hoffmann and Taber 1959, Hamerstrom and Hamerstrom 1961, Aldrich 1963, Johnsgard 1983), and an inaccurate range map in Chrest (1971) was derived from interviews with citizens instead of from verified records (Scott 1982). Sightings from Yellowstone NP and the Flint Creek, Bitterroot, Anaconda-Pintler, Pioneer, and Beartooth ranges lack supporting evidence and almost surely were of other species (see McEneaney 1995, Wright 1996). More

White-tailed Ptarmigan is pure white in the winter, and streaked brown and gray during the summer. The tail remains white throughout the year. In Washington, this is the only species of grouse with white tail feathers. More

White-tailed Ptarmigan is the smallest of the North American grouse. It mostly lives above treeline, in some of the coldest parts of the Rockies. To avoid the worst temperatures, ptarmigans huddle in close groups and often dig into snow burrows. A ptarmigan's feet are fully feathered, partly to maintain body heat during winter, and partly because the feathered toes also act as snowshoes. A winter ptarmigan's foot has up to four times the surface area as that of a summer bird. More