Scientific Name: Lagopus muta
Population: Estimated at over 8 million globally
Regions: High Arctic and sub-Arctic regions across Eurasia and North America
Destinations: Iceland, Canada, Svalbard, Greenland, France, Norway, Scotland
Average Length: Adult: ~31–38 cm (12–15 in); Newborn: ~5–6 cm (~2 in)
Average Weight: Adult: Males: ~0.65–0.75 kg (1.4–1.7 lbs), Females: ~0.5–0.6 kg (1.1–1.3 lbs); Newborn: ~15–20 g (0.5–0.7 oz)
Diet Habits: Buds, leaves, berries, seeds and insects
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Genus: Lagopus
Species: Lagopus muta
English: Rock Ptarmigan
Danish: Fjeldrype
Chinese: 岩雷鸟
Swedish: Fjällripa
Finnish: Kiiruna
Norwegian: Fjellrype
Polish: Pardwa górska
Japanese: ライチョウ (Raichō)
Spanish: Perdiz nival
French: Lagopède alpin
Some of the most distinctive rock ptarmigan characteristics are a small head, round body, feathered legs and short, rounded wings. Additionally, another rock ptarmigan adaptation for survival in the wild is their seasonal plumage changes.
The rock ptarmigan's habitat is the tundra and remote mountainous regions across the Arctic and sub-Arctic. During winter, it is the only terrestrial bird that stays in Svalbard and one of the few animals that remain in Greenland, which is possible due to its insulating plumage.
Considered as one of the largest land birds in Svalbard, an adult rock ptarmigan ranges from 31 to 38 cm (12.2–15 in) in length with a wingspan of 50 to 60 cm (19.7–23.6 in) and weighs 500 to 700 g (17.6–26.5 oz).
The rock ptarmigan diet is primarily vegetarian, including buds, leaves, berries, and seeds. During the summer months, the female rock ptarmigan also eats insects.
The rock ptarmigan predators include owls, Arctic foxes, lynxes, glaucous gulls and Arctic skuas.
The rock ptarmigan's lifespan is short, usually 3 to 5 years. This is due to the large amount of predators.
For this bird to thrive in the Arctic's cold weather, it must have be adapted to this environment for survival.
Fact #1: Despite their short wings, rock ptarmigan are capable of flying and can migrate up to 1,000 km around Greenland.
Fact #2: Rock ptarmigan sounds like a croaking call, especially from males during the breeding season.
Fact #3: When rock ptarmigan breeds, it usually lays 3 to 12 eggs.
Fact #4: Incubation is performed only by female rock ptarmigans, lasting about three weeks.
Fact #5: They can start flying in two weeks after being born.
Fact #6: Rock ptarmigan's flight alternates between high-speed wing strokes and gliding.
Fact #7: They breed on bare mountains and in the tundra
Fact #8: They spend most of their lives on the ground, but rock ptarmigans are capable of flying.
Fact #9: Rock ptarmigans are classified as ‘Near Threatened’ by the IUCN Red List.
Fact #10: They do not migrate.
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