Willow Ptarmigan Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesWillow Ptarmigan
Adult male (Willow)
Medium-sized stocky bird with a short tail and a short, stout bill. Breeding males have a red eyebrow, a chestnut neck, and a white belly.
© Andy Bankert / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 20, 2020Nonbreeding adult (Willow)
Males and females turn white in the winter and blend in with their snowy surroundings.
© Nick Saunders / Macaulay LibrarySaskatchewan, April 07, 2018Males
Calls include a low series of clucks that can accelerate into an odd nasal growl.
© Eric Liner / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 26, 2007Not all videos have sound
Adult (Willow)
This individual is molting into its white winter plumage. Its brown and rusty patches are being replaced by white feathers. Note feathered feet.
© France Desbiens / Macaulay LibraryManitoba, September 29, 2016Female (Willow)
Medium-sized stocky bird with a short and stout bill. Females are mottled in brown, black, and white during the breeding season.
© Alex Lamoreaux / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 14, 2017Breeding male (Willow)
Found in open tundra, especially in areas heavily vegetated with grasses, mosses, herbs, and shrubs.
© Zak Pohlen / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 27, 2017Similar SpeciesWhite-tailed Ptarmigan
Breeding female
Female White-tailed Ptarmigans are darker brown overall and tend to have paler throats. In flight, females have white (not black) outer tail feathers.
© Steve Collins / Macaulay LibraryColorado, July 07, 2011Similar SpeciesWhite-tailed Ptarmigan
Adult male
Male White-tailed Ptarmigans have a brownish gray (not cinnamon) head and neck and brownish (not cinnamon) speckling on the flanks. Tail is entirely white unlike Willow Ptarmigan.
© Chris Wood / Macaulay LibraryColorado, October 01, 2015Similar SpeciesWhite-tailed Ptarmigan
Molting adult
This White-tailed Ptarmigans is molting into its all white winter plumage. Their tail is entirely white unlike Willow Ptarmigans, which have black outer tail feathers that are visible in flight.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryColorado, April 29, 2015Similar SpeciesRock Ptarmigan
Breeding female
Female Rock Ptarmigans look very similar to Willow Ptarmigans, but they have a smaller bill. Note habitat differences; Rock Ptarmigans are found in barren rocky tundra whereas Willow Ptarmigans tend to occur in tundra areas with more vegetation.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 06, 2012Similar SpeciesRock Ptarmigan
Breeding male
Male Rock Ptarmigans are darker brown than Willows, which are more cinnamon colored. Also note habitat differences; Rocks in rocky and barren tundra and Willows in vegetated tundra.
© Mark Davidson / Macaulay LibraryNunavut, July 18, 2012Similar SpeciesRock Ptarmigan
Nonbreeding male
Nonbreeding Rock Ptarmigans have a black stripe in front of the eye that Willows lack.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 24, 2013Similar SpeciesSpruce Grouse
Male
Spruce Grouse have a black breast and grayish head that Willow Ptarmigans lack. Found in dense spruce forests not open tundra.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryMaine, May 09, 2011Similar SpeciesSpruce Grouse
Female
Female Spruce Grouse are more heavily barred brown and white than female Willow Ptarmigans. Found in dense spruce forests not open tundra.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 20, 2012Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
Compare with Similar Species
Click on an image to compare
Species in This Family
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies(Order: Galliformes, Family: Phasianidae)
Don't miss a thing! Join our email list
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.