Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 12.6–15.7 in
32–40 cm - Weight
- 15.5–22.6 oz
440–640 g
Other Names
- Ptarmigan (British)
- Lagopède des rochers (French)
- (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- The male Rock Ptarmigan takes longer than the female to change from its white winter plumage into the brown summer garb. During courtship the male is a conspicuous white patch on the brown tundra, visible for kilometers away. The female sitting on the eggs, however, is so well camouflaged that she is difficult to find from less than 2 meters (6 feet) away.
Habitat
Mountains
Open tundra, barren and rocky slopes in Arctic and alpine areas; in winter, some movement to thickets and forest edge.
Food
Plants
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 3–13 eggs
- Condition at Hatching
- Completely covered with dense down, eyes open. Leave nest within six to 12 hours after the last egg hatches.
Nest Placement
Ground
Behavior
Ground Forager
Conservation
Least Concern
Common and widespread.
Credits
- Holder, K. and R. Montgomerie. 1993. Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus). In The Birds of North America, No. 51 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists’ Union.