Meet The "Snow Chicken": Top 10 Ptarmigan Facts

If you were to make some sweeping ranking of the relative toughness of all the world’s birds—a tricky and subjective endeavor, to be sure—ptarmigan ought to land somewhere very high up there. These squat, chunky members of the grouse subfamily, which are specialists of open country, include species that happily range to the northernmost extremes of Earth’s landmasses, and, unlike many Arctic and subarctic birds, they tough it out up there all winter (with a few caveats, which we’ll get to).

Discover the fascinating ptarmigan, also known as the “Snow Chicken”! This master of camouflage perfectly blends into its environment, adapting to the changing seasons with incredible grace.

Scientists recognize three or four types of ptarmigan, the disagreement hinging on whether the red grouse, found only in the British Isles, is a subspecies of the willow ptarmigan or its own species altogether. Along with willow ptarmigan and red grouse, we also have the rock ptarmigan (also known as the common ptarmigan) and the white-tailed ptarmigan.

Not all of these species occupy the Arctic, as we’ll see. But those that do are often keenly sought-after by birdwatchers and general-purpose nature enthusiasts, including on the cruise itineraries that take lucky travelers into the glorious tundra-scapes of the Far North.

Well, without further ado, let’s get to know these alpine and Arctic grouse—the “snow chickens,” as they’re sometimes nicknamed—via the following 10 ptarmigan facts!

(1) Two Ptarmigan Species Range Into the Arctic

The willow and rock ptarmigans are the representatives of the genus that occupy Arctic habitats, though their ranges also extend well south of the Arctic Circle into subarctic and boreal haunts (including into lower-latitude mountain ranges and highlands). They overlap extensively in their geographies and, indeed, often forage and nest not far from one another, though the willow ptarmigan typically prefers lower-lying, flatter, and shrubbier tundra than the rock ptarmigan, usually found on higher, stonier, more exposed ground. (Hybrids of the two species aren’t unknown, perhaps unsurprisingly.)

And of these two, it’s the rock ptarmigan that lives the farthest north: Populations occupy Ellesmere Island and other poleward islands of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago as well as Greenland and Svalbard.

What about the other two ptarmigan? The red grouse—which, again, has historically been lumped as a subspecies of the willow ptarmigan—is found on the moors of Great Britain and Ireland, while the white-tailed ptarmigan occupies what is thought to be the ancestral range of all ptarmigan: the alpine tundra of North America’s western cordillera, reaching as far south as the Southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado and New Mexico.

Biologists believe the rock and willow ptarmigan lines (including the red grouse) split from the white-tailed ptarmigan stock some three to seven million years ago, and that the advent of the Pleistocene and its colder, wetter, icier climate some 2.6 million years ago may have driven the divergence of rock and willow ptarmigans. Ptarmigan probably originally evolved from a forest grouse and became adapted to alpine tundra; those adaptations to cold, wintry, and windswept open ground then gave ptarmigan an advantage as northern tundra expanded in concert with Pleistocene glacial advantages.

Meet two remarkable residents of the Arctic! On the left, a Rock Ptarmigan; on the right, a Willow Ptarmigan. Both species are perfectly adapted to the harsh northern climes, embodying the “Snow Chicken” spirit!

(2) Most Ptarmigan Change Color With the Seasons

A distinctive physical characteristic of most ptarmigan is their dramatic seasonal shift in plumage. Rock, white-tailed, and most willow ptarmigans turn all white (or nearly so) during the winter, transforming to a mottled blend of brown, red, orange, black, and white for summertime. This basic color change allows ptarmigan to blend in superbly with the landscape across the calendar: disappearing against the white winter snowcover and the brownish palette of tundra rocks, vegetation, and lichen in the warm season, respectively. This ptarmigan camouflage can be astonishingly effective: You may be a few feet from a bird concealed against the snow or tundra ground and still not detect it.

It’s worth noting that the red grouse as well as several subspecies of willow ptarmigan, including populations in Norway and some of the Central Asian steppes, don’t undergo this color change, remaining brown year-round despite an annual molt.

The white-to-brown (and back again) shift isn’t the only plumage transformation seen in ptarmigan. As in many birds, male ptarmigan adopt special courtship plumage during the spring ahead of losing their white winter “suit.” While the male rock ptarmigan’s courtship look is somewhat subtle, with a red mark over the eye (retained when the rest of the summer feathers grow in), his willow-ptarmigan counterpart shows a striking in-between stage for spring, with a rufous head and neck (the typical summer look) contrasting sharply with a still-white body.

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, male rock ptarmigan, staying mostly white as they do into the spring courtship season, will sometimes “intentionally dirty their plumage” to camouflage themselves from predators until they molt into their summer pattern.

Perfectly camouflaged in its winter white, this “Snow Chicken” exemplifies how most ptarmigan species undergo a remarkable seasonal color change to blend seamlessly with their environment. Nature’s incredible adaptability.

(3) Ptarmigan Are Magnificently Adapted to Endure Harsh Winter Weather

As some of the few birds to live year-round above both Arctic and alpine treelines, ptarmigan show marvelous resilience to bone-chilling cold, howling winds, and blanketing snow and ice. They stand out from other grouse with their feathered feet, for one thing: a handy adaptation for dealing with snowcover lasting many months of the year. In the face of blizzards and subzero cold, ptarmigan also burrow into the snow, staying toasty and sheltered within subnivian hideaways. (Snow is an incredibly effective insulator, which means a snow cave or tunnel—not least one warmed by body heat—can be quite comfortable even when air temperatures are dangerously brutal.)

While many ptarmigan populations are essentially resident within their breeding range, some far northern birds, as on Ellesmere Island, will migrate southward after the nesting season; some may winter along the edge of the boreal forest. Migratory flocks of willow and rock ptarmigan may be quite large, and the birds are capable of flying impressively long distances, including across open seawater.

Soaring over an expansive snowy terrain, the “Snow Chicken” epitomizes survival! Ptarmigan are incredibly adapted to thrive in harsh winter conditions, showcasing nature’s brilliant engineering.

(4) They’re Predominantly (But Not Exclusively) Plant-eaters

Grouse in general are largely herbivorous, and ptarmigan are no exception. The bulk of the ptarmigan diet is composed of a wide variety of plant matter, from twigs and foliage to buds, catkins, berries, and seeds. Rock and willow ptarmigan overlap broadly in their diets, feeding on such plants as dwarf willows and birches, blueberries, bearberries, saxifrages, avens, and a variety of grass seeds. Where the two species share a geographic area, rock ptarmigan have been noted to feed more heavily on birches, while willow ptarmigan consume more willows—probably a reflection, at least partly, of the aforementioned habitat segregation that might help reduce competition between these cousins.

Both rock and willow ptarmigan, however, will also eat insects and spiders opportunistically, snapping them up off the ground or from the shrubbery, grasses, and sedges on which the birds are mainly foraging.

Ptarmigan can adeptly scrape away shallow snow to access plant matter beneath, but in deeper snowpacks get by on nibbling exposed portions of otherwise buried shrubs and stunted trees.

Blending beautifully with the tundra foliage, this “Snow Chicken” is primarily a plant-eater! Their diet of berries, leaves, and buds is a key to their survival in the Arctic, showcasing their unique adaptations.

(5) Male Ptarmigan Conduct Flashy (and Noisy) Courtship Displays

To woo females and ward off rivals, male ptarmigan of both the rock and willow species put on quite the show. This coincides with the period of the year in which ptarmigan are fiercely territorial, the springtime prelude to nesting. Males stake out territories—which may be a few to tens of acres in extent—and, in their eye-catching courtship plumage, perform various visual and vocal displays to advertise their dominion and reproductive vigor.

Male willow ptarmigan will spread their wings and tailfeathers, bob and prance about, and issue chattering, chortling clucks and barks to catch the eye of prospective mates and defend their territories. Male rock ptarmigan rattle, cluck, and hiss, and besides strutting, hopping, and fanning their tails and wings, will also execute soaring display flights soundtracked by their vocalizations.

This vibrant male “Snow Chicken” is ready to impress! During courtship, male ptarmigan engage in flashy and noisy displays, a crucial part of their fascinating breeding rituals.

(6) Willow Ptarmigan Are Unique Among Grouse for Being (Mainly) Monogamous, and For the Male’s Fatherly Duties

While grouse—including rock and white-tailed ptarmigan—are typically polygamous, most (though not all) willow ptarmigan are, by contrast, monogamous, pairing with a single mate across multiple breeding seasons.

The male willow ptarmigan is also somewhat unusual for actively guarding his mate while she’s incubating eggs in the nest she’s scraped into soil and lined with moss, leaves, feathers, and other insulating material.

These two “Snow Chickens” exemplify the unique bond of Willow Ptarmigan! Unlike most grouse, they are largely monogamous, with males actively participating in raising their young—a true testament to their dedication.

(7) Their Common Name Comes From Scottish Gaelic & Their Genus Name References Their Feet

The word “ptarmigan” is a manipulation of the Scottish Gaelic name for the bird: tàrmachan. (Both rock and willow ptarmigan/red grouse are found in the Scottish Highlands.)

The ptarmigan genus name, meanwhile, Lagopus, translates in Greek to “hare-footed,” which is a reference to the “booted” feathering extending down to the bird’s toes, akin to a snowshoe hare’s furry feet. Lagopus also happens to be the species name of the furry-footed Arctic fox, for the same reason.

This adorable “Snow Chicken” chick, despite its fluffy appearance, embodies the rugged spirit of its kind. Its very name, from Scottish Gaelic, and its genus name, referencing its feathered feet, tell a tale of arctic resilience.

(8) They Face a Number of Predators, Including the Mighty Gyrfalcon

You might wonder what exactly the well-camouflaged ptarmigan is hiding from. Well, besides humans—who have indeed long hunted these birds for subsistence in northern and mountain regions—a variety of predators like to snack on ptarmigan, including snowy owls, golden eagles, peregrine falcons, and common ravens. Perhaps the “classic” predator of rock and willow ptarmigan in their Arctic haunts is the regal gyrfalcon, the biggest of all falcons and one of the most magnificent top-of-the-world hunters around.

These swift, powerful falcons—which come in both white and gray color phases—are an iconic adversary of ptarmigan on the Arctic tundra, with the fine-tuned camouflage of the grouse matched up against the remarkably keen eyes of the raptor.

While the “Snow Chicken” is a master of camouflage, it faces formidable predators like the magnificent Gyrfalcon, seen here in flight. A testament to the enduring drama of the Arctic food web.

(9) They Can Act Remarkably Tame Around People

Ptarmigan often exhibit little outward fear of human beings—a reflection, perhaps, of their confidence in their own camouflage as well as their generally remote, often little-visited haunts. It’s often possible to observe these birds up close—that is, if you can spot them in the first place!

In fact, relative tameness is somewhat common among a variety of grouse, including forest-adapted species such as blue and spruce grouse that may walk close by a quiet sitting person, seemingly unbothered.

This “Snow Chicken” peeking from behind the rocks showcases a surprising trait: ptarmigan can be remarkably tame around people! This unique behavior offers a rare glimpse into their fascinating world.

(10) You Can See Ptarmigan On An Arctic Cruise

Besides the opportunities available in various mountain, steppe, and moorland regions south of the Arctic, birders hoping to see ptarmigan in the Far North certainly have many areas serving up the opportunity, from Greenland and the Canadian High Arctic to Svalbard and Alaska. Given the season in which most tourists are visiting the Arctic, you’re most apt to see the mottled brown-plumaged birds, but travelers in late spring and early summer may still see some birds—primarily the males—in snow-white getups ahead of their summer molt. Indeed, the conspicuous appearance and showy territorialism of male ptarmigan in the courting period makes this one of the best times of year to easily spot these otherwise well-camouflaged birds.

Imagine witnessing this “Snow Chicken” in its natural habitat! On an Arctic cruise, you might just spot a ptarmigan, a truly unforgettable encounter with the wildlife of the far North.