Meet the Birdorable Willow Ptarmigan: The Master of Camouflage

Birdorable Willow Ptarmigan camouflaged in the snow

Willow Ptarmigan camouflaged in the snow

Today, we're thrilled to introduce the latest addition to the Birdorable Bonanza: the charming Willow Ptarmigan. This adorable bird is a marvel of adaptation, showcasing a striking seasonal transformation in its plumage. During the winter months, it dons a completely white coat (as shown above), allowing it to blend seamlessly with snowy landscapes. As the seasons change, so does its plumage, transitioning to a mostly marble brown color, providing excellent camouflage among the forest floors and moorlands.

The Willow Ptarmigan, known as the Willow Grouse in Europe, is a bird of many terrains. It makes its home across a diverse range of environments, from the forests and moorlands of Scotland and Scandinavia to the vast expanses of Siberia. Across the Atlantic, it is equally at home in the wild landscapes of Canada and Alaska, where it is held in high esteem as the state bird since 1955. Its unique adaptation to seasonal changes not only aids in its survival but also makes it a fascinating subject for bird enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. 

Photo of Willow Ptarmigan

Willow Ptarmigan by Gregory "Slobirdr" Smith (CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED)

Until the 31st of July we'll be adding a new bird every day as part of our Birdorable Bonanza until we reach the 200th at the end of this month. Here's a preview of tomorrow's bird:

Cute Willow Ptarmigan Gifts

Comments

Ashira on July 27, 2009 at 9:51 AM wrote:
Ooh, a Quetzal? :D The Ptarmigan is super cute. ~3
Crissy on July 27, 2009 at 10:37 AM wrote:
Scissor-tailed flycatcher?
Crissy on July 27, 2009 at 10:38 AM wrote:
tomorrow's bird is a scissor-tailed flycatcher
Addie Owl on July 27, 2009 at 5:03 PM wrote:
yea i'd guess a quetzal I luv the new bird
Birdorable on July 27, 2009 at 7:02 PM wrote:
Ashira and Addie are right, it's a Quetzal. Very good! :)
Heather Richards on October 4, 2016 at 6:26 PM wrote:
A bagel. A bagel. A bagel. A bagel. A spatula. Bagel. A bagel.
Heather Richards on October 4, 2016 at 6:30 PM wrote:
I think you are eating bagels right now. It was because this bird sounds like it's saying bagel and I was imitating it.
Heather Richards on July 24, 2018 at 5:24 PM wrote:
Hey addie owl I like ur name I love owlz
Andrew on September 26, 2018 at 4:27 PM wrote:
this is a willow ptarmigan
Andrew on November 19, 2018 at 7:32 PM wrote:
this a gamebirds of willow ptarmigan
Reed on May 6, 2020 at 1:23 PM wrote:
W I L L O W
Reed on May 6, 2020 at 1:24 PM wrote:
Quetzal!
Cadence on September 19, 2020 at 10:20 PM wrote:
It's a quetzal. Its a pretzel. It likes pretzels.r
Spurwing Plover on May 31, 2022 at 10:56 PM wrote:
The Quetzal carries the Colors of Christmas
Spurwing Plover on August 13, 2022 at 6:46 AM wrote:
Ptarmigan sleep under the Snow

Leave a comment

Comments with links or HTML will be deleted. Your comment will be published pending approval.
Your email address will not be published
You can unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For more information on how to unsubscribe, our privacy practices, and how we are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy, please review our Privacy Policy. By clicking submit below, you consent to allow Birdorable to store and process the personal information submitted above to provide you the content requested.

Citizen Science: eBird

Contributing to citizen Science projects helps our collective knowledge, but it also helps us as individuals learn. We'd like to highlight some citizen science projects in which families can participate. If you know of a project that we could highlight on our blog, please let us know! The...

Citizen Science: Great Backyard Bird Count

Contributing to citizen Science projects helps our collective knowledge, but it also helps us as individuals learn. We'd like to highlight some citizen science projects in which families can participate. If you know of a project that...

2015 Bonanza Bird #1: Cuban Tody

The first bird in our seventh annual Birdorable Bonanza: 2015 Advent Edition is the darling little Cuban Tody! The Cuban Tody is one of five species of tody in the world. All birds in the family are found in the Caribbean. Todies...

All About Warbler Nests

The different New World warbler species have a lot in common with each other. They mostly feed on insects, they sing, they raise their young. But the nests they use have some variety. Some nest in trees, and some nest on or near the ground. They build cups,...