# White-Tailed Ptarmigan (*lagopus leucura*) The White-Tailed Ptarmigan is a fluffy bird that changes color with the seasons! It loves to play in the snow and can be very hard to spot because of its camouflaged feathers. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Mountainous areas with snow and rocks, mainly in North America. - **Also known as:** Lagopus, Mountain Chicken, Snow Chicken ![White-Tailed Ptarmigan](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/White-tailed_Ptarmigan%252C_Rocky_Mountains%252C_Alberta.jpg&width=800) Photo: John Hill, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:White-tailed_Ptarmigan%252C_Rocky_Mountains%252C_Alberta.jpg) ## Appearance The White-Tailed Ptarmigan is a medium-sized bird with rounded wings and a short, stout bill. It is unique for its all-white tail feathers, which remain white year-round. Its plumage dramatically changes from mottled brown in summer to pure white in winter for camouflage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Galliformes - **Family:** Phasianidae - **Genus:** Lagopus ## Interesting facts - Baby ptarmigans can walk and find their own food just hours after hatching! - Male ptarmigans perform funny display flights to attract a mate in spring. - Their winter diet of tough willow buds shows how hardy these mountain birds are! - These tough birds stay high on snowy mountains year-round, even through winter! ## Special abilities - **Seasonal Switch-up:** White-Tailed Ptarmigan can change feather colors seasonally because it helps them blend perfectly with their snowy or rocky habitat. - **Snowshoe Steps:** White-Tailed Ptarmigan has heavily feathered feet that act like natural snowshoes, helping them walk easily on deep snow. - **Snow Burrower:** White-Tailed Ptarmigan can burrow into snow for warmth because it helps them hide from predators and harsh winter weather. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 30-35 cm - **Wingspan:** 55-65 cm - **Weight:** 0.35-0.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-6 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-8 - **Incubation:** 21-24 days ## Diet & Feeding These birds are plant-eaters, feasting on mountain plants and tiny insects when young. - **Age differences:** Chicks eat insects for quick growth, while adults primarily eat plant matter like buds and leaves. - **Primary Foods:** Willow buds, Birch catkins, Leaves, Berries, Flowers, Insects - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Golden Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/golden-eagle) (*Aquila chrysaetos*) — A powerful bird of prey that hunts ptarmigans. - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — A cunning predator that preys on ptarmigans and their nests. - **Eaten by:** [Wolverine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wolverine) (*Gulo gulo*) — This fierce mammal sometimes preys on ptarmigans in their alpine habitat. - **Eats:** Arctic Willow (*Salix arctica*) — Ptarmigans primarily eat buds and twigs from this hardy plant. ## Traits - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify White-Tailed Ptarmigan? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is White-Tailed Ptarmigan? 30-35 cm ### What is White-Tailed Ptarmigan's wingspan? 55-65 cm ### How much does White-Tailed Ptarmigan weigh? 0.35-0.5 kg ### How long does White-Tailed Ptarmigan live? 3-6 years ### How fast can White-Tailed Ptarmigan move? 60 km/h ### What does White-Tailed Ptarmigan eat? These birds are plant-eaters, feasting on mountain plants and tiny insects when young. ### Where is White-Tailed Ptarmigan usually found? Mountainous areas with snow and rocks, mainly in North America. ## Where to spot - [Pasayten Wilderness](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pasayten-wilderness) — Washington, US · Nature Reserve - [Echo Lake Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/echo-lake-park) — Colorado, US · Natural Landmark - [Great Sierra Mine Historic Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/great-sierra-mine-historic-site) — California, US · Historic Site - [Cathedral Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cathedral-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see White-Tailed Ptarmigan](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/white-tailed-ptarmigan) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [White-Tailed Ptarmigan: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-ptarmigan)