Lagopus is a small genus of birds in the grouse subfamily. It contains three living species with numerous described subspecies.

Etymology

The genus name Lagopus is derived from Ancient Greek lagos (λαγως), meaning "hare", + pous (πους), "foot", in reference to the feathered feet and toes typical of this cold-adapted group (see also Snowshoe Hare). The specific epithets muta and leucura were for a long time misspelt mutus and leucurus, in the erroneous belief that the ending of Lagopus denotes masculine gender. However, as the Ancient Greek term λαγωπους is of feminine gender, and the specific epithet has to agree with that, the feminine muta and leucura are correct.^[1]

Description

The three species are all sedentary specialists of cold regions. Willow Ptarmigan is a circumpolar boreal forest species, White-tailed Ptarmigan is a North American alpine bird, and Rock Ptarmigan breeds in both Arctic and mountain habitats across Eurasia and North America. All, with the exception of the Red Grouse, have a white winter plumage that helps them blend into the snowy background. Indeed, even their remiges are white, while these feathers are black in almost all birds (even birds that are predominantly white, such as the Bali Myna) because melanin makes them more resilient and thus improves flight performance. The Lagopus grouse apparently found it easier to escape predators by not being seen than by flying away.

These are hardy vegetarian birds, but insects are also taken by the developing young. In all species except for the Willow Ptarmigan, the female takes all responsibility for nesting and caring for the chicks, as is typical with gamebirds.

Species

Living species of Lagopus
Common and scientific names	Image	Description	Range and status
Willow Ptarmigan (also Willow Grouse and Red Grouse) Lagopus lagopus Linnaeus, 1758		Summer: marbled brown and reddish with black tail and white underparts; winter: most subspecies have white plumage except for black tail.	10-20 subspecies. Circumarctic range in forest and moorlands of northern Eurasia and North America. Status: Least Concern.
Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus muta Montin, 1781		Summer: grey and brown upperparts; winter: white plumage. Distinguish from Willow Ptarmigan by habitat – higher elevations and more barren ground.	20-30 subspecies. Arctic and subarctic Eurasia and North America on rocky mountainsides and tundra. Status: Least Concern.
White-tailed Ptarmigan Lagopus leucura Richardson, 1831		Summer: greyish-brown and speckled; winter: white plumage. Males identifiable by reddish eyecombs. The smallest Ptarmigan.	Alpine areas above the the timberline in North America from Alaska and western Canada to New Mexico. Status: Least Concern.

A Red Grouse (Lagopus lagopus scotica) in the Yorkshire Moors of England

The distinctive British form of Willow Ptarmigan, the Red Grouse (Lagopus lagopus scotica) has sometimes been considered a separate species, L. scotica, but this is no longer accepted.

Fossil record

Two prehistoric species and two paleosubspecies are only known from fossils:

• Lagopus atavus (Early Pliocene of Bulgaria? - Late Pliocene)
• Lagopus balcanicus (Late Pliocene of Varshets, Bulgaria)
• Lagopus lagopus noaillensis (Pleistocene of W Europe)
• Lagopus mutus correzensis (Pleistocene of W Europe)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lagopus

References

• David, Normand & Gosselin, Michel (2002): The grammatical gender of avian genera. Bull. B. O. C. 122(4): 257-282.
• Madge, Steve; McGowan, Philip J. K. & Kirwan, Guy M. (2002): Pheasants, partidges and grouse : a guide to the pheasants, partridges, quails, grouse, guineafowl, buttonquails and sandgrouse of the world. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 0-7136-3966-0