Table of Contents
Overview
Brief Summary
Biology
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Comprehensive Description
Description
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Distribution
Geographic Range
Circumpolar, found in alpine and arctic tundra regions of Canada, Scandinavia, Russia, Finland, Greenland, etc. with scattered southern outposts in Japan, Switzerland, and Spain.
(Johnsgard, 1973; Kaufman, 1996; Weeden, 1995)
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ); palearctic (Native )
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National Distribution
Canada
Origin: Native
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
Type of Residency: Year-round
United States
Origin: Native
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
Type of Residency: Year-round
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Global Range: Circumpolar. Arctic Ocean islands south in Eurasia to Iceland and locally in the mountains to Scotland, France, Spain, Austria, central Asia, and northern Japan; and in North America south to southern Alaska, northern Canada, and southern Greenland.
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Range
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Physical Description
Morphology
Physical Description
The rock ptarmigan looks like a small grouse or pheasant; adults are beween 13 and 16 inches long. It has pure white plumage in winter, except for a black tail, which is present in both sexes year-round. Both sexes are barred with nondescript brown and black markings in summer, with females more coarsely marked than males. Males wait longer than females to shed the white plumage in the breeding season. This is part of the courtship display, but also leads to heavier predation of males by gyrfalcons. Males have a black streak from beak to eye, a scarlet comb near the eyes, and are generally pale on the upper body in fall. Some, but not all, females show the black eye streak. Females are nearly invisible against the tundra in summer, and are slightly smaller than males.
All ptarmigans have feathered feet, which act as snowshoes, allowing the birds to walk in soft snow. The feathers may also increase insulation for these year-round arctic dwellers.
(Johnsgard, 1973; Kaufman, 1996; Weeden, 1995; Hays, 1998)
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Size
Ecology
Habitat
Habitat and Ecology
- Terrestrial
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Habitat
Winter habitat is usually brushy slopes near the timberline, where vegetation pokes through snow. Males tend to remain in alpine-like habitats, while females seek more cover.
Spring and summer habitat is more open, with males choosing territory sparsely covered in stunted brush and with many rocky outlooks from which to keep watch for other ptarmigans.
Chicks tend to prefer swales and ridges without dense brush, where they can fly behind rises to escape danger.
(Johnsgard, 1973; Kaufman, 1996; Weeden, 1995)
Terrestrial Biomes: tundra
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Comments: Open tundra, barren and rocky slopes in Arctic and alpine areas, and relatively barren heaths and moors (AOU 1983). Nests on tundra, barren and rocky slopes in Arctic and alpine areas. The nest is a scrape lined with grasses, plants and a few feathers.
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Habitat
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Migration
Non-Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species do not make significant seasonal migrations. Juvenile dispersal is not considered a migration.
Locally Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).
Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.
Partially migratory. Small numbers regularly winter south of breeding range. Some birds seasonally migrate between higher and lower elevations in the mountains.
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Trophic Strategy
Food Habits
Adults are almost exlusive vegetarians, but young chicks feed heavily on insects, spiders, and snails. Major summer diet is a mixture of plant material, especially blueberries, horsetail tips, crowberries, mountain avens, and heads of sedges. Winter foods are mostly buds and catkins of dwarf birch, and some willow buds and twigs.
(Johnsgard, 1973; Kaufman, 1996; Weeden, 1995)
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Comments: During summer, diet primarily leaves, buds, fruit, seeds, mosses, insects, and spiders. In winter, feeds on seeds, buds, and twigs. (Terres 1980). Birch and alder comprise bulk of diet in winter in central Alaska; Empetrum and Equisetum dominate diet on Amchitka (Emison and White 1988).
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General Ecology
Males may leave family groups and gather in flocks; females and young stay together during the summer but join other family groups to form winter flocks (Harrison 1978). In high arctic, territory size may be as large as 2.5 sq km (see Johnson and Herter 1989).
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Life History and Behavior
Life Expectancy
Lifespan, longevity, and ageing
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Reproduction
Reproduction
Females nest on the ground in shallow depressions, lining the nest with small amounts of feathers and plant material. Nesting habitat is most often a bare rocky outcrop with little vegetation. Because some overhead protection is usually sought, the nest is often located close to a large rock.
The female incubates 7 to 10 eggs without help from the male. Incubation typically lasts 21 days, and the downy chicks are able to leave the nest within a day of hatching. The female tends her young, but they feed themselves, and are able to fly at about 10 days. Chicks are independent at 10 to 12 weeks old.
(Johnsgard, 1973; Kaufman, 1996; Weeden, 1995)
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Breeding begins from late May to early June. Female incubates 5-10, sometimes 3-12, eggs for 21-23 days (also reported as 24-26 days, Harrison 1978). Nestlings are precocial and downy. Young initially are tended by both parents; later only by female. Young can fly at 10-15 days, independent at 10-12 weeks.
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Molecular Biology and Genetics
Molecular Biology
Barcode data: Lagopus muta
There are 31 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank. Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species. See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.
-- end --
Download FASTA File
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Statistics of barcoding coverage: Lagopus muta
Public Records: 31
Species: 91
Species With Barcodes: 1
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Conservation
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List Assessment
Red List Category
Red List Criteria
Version
Year Assessed
Assessor/s
Reviewer/s
Contributor/s
Justification
History
- 2008Least Concern
- 2004Least Concern
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Conservation Status
Scarce near arctic settlements, but abundant across vast areas of tundra. Populations are known for great flutuations, usually following a ten year cycle, a phenomenon that is especially well documented in Iceland.
(Johnsgard, 1973; Kaufman, 1996; Weeden, 1995)
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: no special status
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National NatureServe Conservation Status
Canada
Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure
United States
Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure
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NatureServe Conservation Status
Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure
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Status
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Threats
Threats
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Management
Conservation
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems
Benefits
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Rock ptarmigans are popular as game birds, providing both food and fun for residents of the Alaskan hinterlands. They can be hunted with shotguns or snared.
(Weeden, 1995).
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Wikipedia
Rock Ptarmigan
The Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) is a medium-sized gamebird in the grouse family. It is known simply as Ptarmigan in Europe and colloquially as Snow Chicken or Partridge in North America, where it is the official bird for the territory of Nunavut, Canada,[2] and the official game bird for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.[3]
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Description
The Rock Ptarmigan is 34–36 centimetres (13–14 in) long (tail 8 cm) with a wing-span of 54–60 centimetres (21–24 in).[4] It is slighter smaller than the Willow Grouse by about 10%.[4] The male's "song" is a loud croaking.
The Rock Ptarmigan is seasonally camouflaged; its feathers moult from white in winter to brown in spring or summer. The breeding male has greyish upper parts with white wings and under parts. In winter, its plumage becomes completely white except for the black tail. It can be distinguished from the winter Willow Grouse (Willow Ptarmigan in North America) by habitat—the Rock Ptarmigan prefers higher elevations and more barren habitat; it is also smaller with a more delicate bill.
Habitat and range
The Rock Ptarmigan is a sedentary species which breeds across arctic and subarctic Eurasia and North America (including Greenland) on rocky mountainsides and tundra. It is widespread in the Arctic Cordillera and is found in isolated populations in the mountains of Scotland, the Pyrenees, the Alps, Bulgaria, the Urals, the Pamir Mountains, the Altay Mountains, and Japan. Because of the remote habitat in which it lives, it has only a few predators—such as Golden Eagles—and it can be surprisingly approachable.
During the last ice age, the species was far more widespread in continental Europe.[5]
Feeding
The Rock Ptarmigan feeds primarily on birch and willow buds and catkins when available. It will also eat various seeds, leaves, flowers and berries of other plant species. Insects are eaten by the developing young.
Reproduction
Apart from the comb, the male Rock Ptarmigan has no ornaments or displays that are typical for grouses in temperate regions. Studies on other grouses have shown that much variation in comb size and colour exists between the species,[6] and that the comb is used in courtship display and aggressive interactions between males.[7] Many studies have shown that there is a strong correlation between the comb size and the level of testosterone in males;[8] one report from 1981 showed that the amount of testosterone is correlated to aggressiveness against other males.[9]
The male's comb has been the focus of studies regarding sexual selection. Studies of a population of male Rock Ptarmigans in Scarpa Lake, Nunavut, have shown that during the first year, mating success among males was influenced by comb size and condition, and bigamous males had larger combs than monogamous males. The correlation to size disappeared after the first year, but the correlation to comb condition remained.[10] This is consistent with another study of the same population of L. muta that showed that mating success overall is correlated to comb condition. Exceptions were first-time breeders, in which the size of the comb influenced mating success.[11]
Etymology
The Ptarmigan's genus name, Lagopus, is derived from Ancient Greek lagos (λαγως), meaning "hare", + pous (πους), "foot", in reference to the bird's feathered legs[12] (see also Snowshoe hare).
The species name, muta, comes from New Latin and means "mute", referring to the simple croaking song of the male.[12] It was for a long time misspelt mutus, 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 species name has to agree with that, the feminine muta is correct.[13]
The word ptarmigan comes from the Scottish Gaelic tàrmachan, literally croaker.[14] The silent initial p was added in 1684 by Robert Sibbald through the influence of Greek, especially pteron (πτερον), "wing", "feather" or "pinion".[14]
In culture
Rock Ptarmigan meat is a popular part of festive meals in Icelandic cuisine. Hunting of Rock Ptarmigans was banned in Iceland in 2003 and 2004 due to its declining population. Hunting has been allowed again since 2005, but is restricted to November and only for personal consumption, i.e. selling Rock Ptarmigan is illegal.
Gallery
Ptarmigan chick in Northern Norway
Rock Ptarmigans in Iceland, summer plumage
Rock Ptarmigan in Iceland, summer plumage
Alpine Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta helvetica), summer plumage
Bird in winter plumage in Iceland
Evermann's Rock Ptarmigan in flight
A ptarmigan in the coat of arms of Kiruna Municipality. The name Kiruna is also a derivate from Giron, the Sami word for Ptarmigan.
Rock Ptarmigan in Mount Arakawa, mother and child
Rock Ptarmigan in Akaishi Mountains, winter plumage
Lagopus Muta Iceland Snæfellsnes April 2012
Rock Ptarmigans Iceland Snaefellsnes 2012
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References
- ^ BirdLife International (2004). Lagopus muta. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- ^ Government of Nunavut. "The Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus) Official Bird of Nunavut". http://www.assembly.nu.ca/about-legislative-assembly/official-bird-nunavut. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
- ^ http://www.heritage.nf.ca/facts4.html
- ^ a b The Birds of the Western Palearctic [Abridged]. OUP. 1997. ISBN 0-19-854099-X.
- ^ Tomek, Teresa & Bocheński, Zygmunt (2005): Weichselian and Holocene bird remains from Komarowa Cave, Central Poland. Acta zoologica cracoviensia 48A(1-2): 43-65. PDF fulltext
- ^ Johnsgard, P. A. (1984), Grouse of the world, Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, ISBN 0-8032-2558-X.
- ^ Hjorth, I. (1970), "Reproductive behaviour in Tetraonidae", Viltrevy 7: 183–596.
- ^ Stokkan, K. A. (1979a), "Testosterone and daylength-dependent development of comb size and breeding plumage of male willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus lagopus)", The Auk 96 (1): 106–115, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4085405.
- ^ Wattson, A. & Parr, R. (1981), "Hormone implants affecting territory size and aggressive and sexual behaviour in red grouse", Ornis Scandinavica 12 (1): 55–61, http://www.jstor.org/stable/3675905.
- ^ Brodsky, L. M. (1988), "Mating tactics of male rock ptarmigan, Lagopus mutus: a conditional mating strategy", Animal Behaviour 36 (2): 335–342, doi:10.1016/S0003-3472(88)80003-4.
- ^ Holder, K. & Montgomerie, R. (1993), "Context and consequences of comb displays by male rock ptarmigan", Animal Behaviour 45 (3): 457–470, doi:10.1006/anbe.1993.1057.
- ^ a b Jobling, James A (1991). A Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. OUP. ISBN 0-19-854634-3.
- ^ David, Normand & Gosselin, Michel (2002): The grammatical gender of avian genera. Bull. B. O. C. 122(4): 257-282.
- ^ a b Lockwood, W B (1993). The Oxford Dictionary of British Bird Names. OUP. ISBN 978-0-19-866196-2.
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Names and Taxonomy
Taxonomy
Comments: Fourteen subspecies of rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta; formerly Lagopus mutus) are recognized in North America, seven of which are endemic to the Aleutian Archipelago, in Alaska (Holder et al. 2000). Subspecies are characterized on the basis of adult male summer plumage color and pattern (see review in Holder and Montgomerie 1993); each subspecies is confined to one island or a small cluster of islands (Holder et al. 2004).
In Alaska, there are two species with dark plumage (L. m. nelsoni and L. m. yunaskensis), five with pale plumage (L. m. atkhensis, L. m. chamberlaini, L. m. sanfordi, L. m. gabrielsoni, and L. m. townsendi) and only one with black plumage (L. m. evermanni; Holder et al. 2000).
Recent genetic analysis suggests the Aleutian subspecies and the mainland Alaska subspecies L. m. nelsoni (Nelson's rock ptarmigan) may be arranged into three evolutionarily significant units: (1) L. m. evermanni is genetically and morphologically distinct from all other Aleutian and mainland subspecies; (2) L. m. nelsoni, L. m. yunaskensis, L. m. gabrielsoni, and L. m. townsendi could be combined under one subspecific designation; and (3) L. m. sanfordi, L. m. atkhensis and L. m. chamberlaini combined (Holder 1998, Holder et al. 1999, Holder et al. 2004).
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