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Rock Ptarmigan Identification

Rock Ptarmigan Nonbreeding male
Nonbreeding male

Stocky, chickenlike grouse with a short bill and tail. Males and females are white in the winter with black outer tail feathers. Males have a more pronounced red eyebrow and a black stripe in front of the eye.

© Cameron Eckert | Macaulay LibraryYukon Territory, May 25, 2015
Rock Ptarmigan Breeding male
Breeding male

Stocky, chickenlike grouse with a short bill and tail. Breeding males have a red eyebrow and are mottled brown with a white belly.

© Mark Davidson | Macaulay LibraryNunavut, July 18, 2012
Rock Ptarmigan Nonbreeding male
Nonbreeding male

Found in arctic and alpine tundra even during the nonbreeding season. Males and females molt out of their muted brown plumage in summer into white plumage for the winter.

© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryNunavut, June 18, 1997
Rock Ptarmigan Breeding female
Breeding female

Breeding females are mottled in brown and black with a small red eyebrow.

© Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 06, 2012
Rock Ptarmigan Nonbreeding adult
Nonbreeding adult

Males and females turn white in the winter. They have black outer tail feathers that are usually only visible in flight.

© Andrew Spencer | Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 24, 2013
Rock Ptarmigan Habitat
Habitat

Found in barren rocky tundra.

© Harald Steensland | Macaulay LibrarySvalbard, September 02, 2009
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Adult Description

Medium to large chicken-like bird. Thick bodied. Tail moderately short, rounded, and black. Completely white in winter. Barred grayish brown in summer. Wings white.

Immature Description

Similar to adult.
Relative Size

Relative Sizecrow sizedcrow-sized
Measurements
  • Both Sexes
    • Length: 12.6-15.8 in (32-40 cm)
    • Weight: 15.5-22.6 oz (440-640 g)

Species in This Family

Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies(Order: Galliformes, Family:Phasianidae)

ChukarChukar
Ring-necked PheasantRing-necked Pheasant
Gray PartridgeGray Partridge
Ruffed GrouseRuffed Grouse
Greater Sage-GrouseGreater Sage-Grouse
Gunnison Sage-GrouseGunnison Sage-Grouse
Spruce GrouseSpruce Grouse
Willow PtarmiganWillow Ptarmigan
Rock PtarmiganRock Ptarmigan
White-tailed PtarmiganWhite-tailed Ptarmigan
Dusky GrouseDusky Grouse
Sooty GrouseSooty Grouse
Sharp-tailed GrouseSharp-tailed Grouse
Greater Prairie-ChickenGreater Prairie-Chicken
Lesser Prairie-ChickenLesser Prairie-Chicken
Wild TurkeyWild Turkey

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