Ptarmigan
The (Rock) Ptarmigan is a medium-sized gamebird in the grouse family.
The Ptarmigan is seasonally camouflaged with its feathers moulting 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.
The Ptarmigan is a sedentary species which breeds across Arctic and sub Arctic Eurasia and north America and Greenland on rocky mountainsides and tundra. Because of the remote habitat in which it lives, it has only a few predators (such as the Golden Eagle) and it can be surprisingly approachable. During the last Ice Age, the Ptarmigan was far more widespread in continental Europe.
The 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.
Date: 4th June 2015
Location: Goðafoss, north east Iceland
The Ptarmigan is seasonally camouflaged with its feathers moulting 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.
The Ptarmigan is a sedentary species which breeds across Arctic and sub Arctic Eurasia and north America and Greenland on rocky mountainsides and tundra. Because of the remote habitat in which it lives, it has only a few predators (such as the Golden Eagle) and it can be surprisingly approachable. During the last Ice Age, the Ptarmigan was far more widespread in continental Europe.
The 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.
Date: 4th June 2015
Location: Goðafoss, north east Iceland
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Also in: North east Iceland
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