See the Willow Ptarmigan change colour in Spring and Fall.
Where to find the Willow Ptarmigan
The Willow Ptarmigan is a hardy bird that lives in the mountains of Alaska, northwest British Columbia, Canada’s northern territories, around Hudson Bay, Newfoundland, and Labrador. It is also found in the north of Europe, Scandinavia, Siberia, China, and Mongolia. It does not migrate.
Ptarmigan (pronounced tarmigan as the P is silent) are mostly ground-dwelling birds, but I have seen them perched at the top of small trees and feeding in bushes.
What do they eat?
The Willow Ptarmigan feeds mainly on the willow plant. It eats the leaves, buds, and twigs. The chicks also eat insects.
They change colour.
They prepare for the harsh northern winter by changing colour to white and growing feathers on their feet. In summer, they change to brown, with the males being a lovely reddish-brown and the females a mottled brown and black for camouflage on the nest.
Other species of Ptarmigan
There are two other species of ptarmigan in North America. The Rock Ptarmigan has the same range as the Willow Ptarmigan but is found at higher elevations (above the tree line) than the Willow Ptarmigan. It is black and white instead of brown and white. The third species is the White-tailed Ptarmigan. They live along the west coast from Alaska to southern British Columbia and along the Alberta border. You will not see them along the coast. Ptarmigan live only in the mountains. The other two species have black tails. The tails always remain black, even in winter when the bird is white.
The Willow Ptarmigan is the state bird of Alaska.