Field Guide
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Ptarmigan
Lagopus muta
Not yet photographed by the community
Mountain grouse that turns white in winter.
Species Profile
Red List (UK); nationally scarce and experiencing range contraction due to climate warming and habitat degradation.
- Lifespan
- 8–10 years in the wild
- Size & Weight
- 34–36 cm, wingspan 54–60 cm; 400–550 g
- Habitat
- High mountain moorlands and tundra-like terrain above 600 m, particularly on exposed rocky slopes with sparse vegetation.
- UK Distribution
- Resident only in the Scottish Highlands, confined to the highest peaks (Ben Nevis, Cairngorms). Scarce and declining, with populations highly sensitive to climate change.
- Diet
- Herbivorous; feeds on heather, bilberry, crowberry, willow buds, and shoots. In winter, relies heavily on heather and lichen beneath snow.
- Predators
- Golden eagles, white-tailed eagles, peregrine falcons, and foxes; chicks also vulnerable to crows and skuas.
- Mating Season
- April to June
- Breeding
- Clutch of 6–9 eggs; incubation period 21–24 days; single brood per year. Chicks are precocial and fledge at 10–12 days.
- Behaviour
- Largely solitary or in small flocks; territorial during breeding season. Exhibits cryptic behaviour, relying on camouflage and remaining motionless when threatened. Males perform dramatic aerial displays with loud calls during spring.
- •Ptarmigan undergo dramatic seasonal plumage changes: white in winter for snow camouflage, mottled brown-grey in summer, and intermediate plumage in spring and autumn.
- •They have feathered feet and toes that act as natural snowshoes, providing insulation and improved walking on snow and ice.
- •UK populations are at the southern edge of their range and are particularly vulnerable to climate warming, which reduces snow cover and suitable habitat.
- •The species is monogamous during the breeding season, with males defending territories and assisting in chick-rearing.
- •Ptarmigan can alter their metabolic rate seasonally, reducing energy expenditure during harsh winter months on exposed mountains.
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