White-tailed Ptarmigan

White-tailed Ptarmigan

White-tailed Ptarmigan: Small grouse, mottled brown overall, white on wings, breast, belly, red eye comb, white-edged brown tail, legs covered with white feathers. It is the smallest of the ptarmigans, and the only one that nests south of Canada. Lives most of its life above timberline.

● Song: "ku-kriii kriii", "kuk-kuk-kuk"

● Foraging & Feeding: White-tailed Ptarmigan: Feeds on seeds, buds, flowers, and fruits of willows and other alpine plants; occasionally eats insects.

● Breeding & nesting: White-tailed Ptarmigan: Three to nine brown-blotched or spotted, pink or buff eggs are laid among rocks in a ground depression lined with grass, lichens, small leaves, and feathers. Incubation ranges from 22 to 24 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: White-tailed Ptarmigan: Other ptarmigans have black on tails.

Flight Pattern