Birds · Galliformes · Phasianidae

Willow Ptarmigan

Lagopus lagopus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The willow ptarmigan is the most widespread grouse in the northern hemisphere, found on the tundra and moorland of Eurasia and North America. It changes plumage with the season: pure white in winter and reddish brown in summer, except for the British subspecies, the red grouse, which never turns fully white. Its populations fluctuate in marked cycles tied to intestinal parasites and to the abundance of lemmings and their predators.

Weight

580 g – 720 g

Size

35 cm – 43 cm

Lifespan

8 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

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Fun facts

The British subspecies, the red grouse, is the only one in the world that does not turn white in winter: on islands where lasting snow is rare, white camouflage would be counterproductive.
Its populations fluctuate in cycles of several years driven by an intestinal nematode, a mechanism demonstrated experimentally and a classic case of population regulation by parasites.
The heather moors of Scotland are managed by burning them in patches to maximise its density for shooting, a practice that shapes the landscape of large parts of the Highlands and that generates permanent environmental controversy.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Tundra, peat bogs, heather moorland and willow scrub of the northern hemisphere
Sexual maturity: 12 months
Gestation / incubation: 21 days
Litter / clutch size: 6

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagopus_lagopus