The Rock Ptarmigan

Rock Ptarmigan

Rock Ptarmigan

The Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) is found in arctic and subarctic Eurasia and North America including Greenland. There are a number of isolated mountain populations at lower latitudes in Scotland, the Pyrenees, Alps and Bulgaria, the Urals, Pamir, Altai, and Japan. During the last Ice Age this species was much more widespread throughout Europe. Most of the world population of ptarmigans are resident birds.
The ptarmigan live in harsh arctic and subarctic tundra, often in rocky area.
It primarily feeds on buds of birch and willow.