Description
The Willow Ptarmigan is a medium to large ground-dwelling bird and is the most numerous of the three species of Ptarmigan. Males and females are about the same size, the adult length varying between 35 and 44 centimetres (14 and 17 in) with a wingspan ranging from 60 and 65 centimetres (24 and 26 in). The weight is 430 to 810 grams (15 to 29 oz). It is deep-chested and has a fairly long neck, a broad bill, short feathered legs and a moderately short rounded tail. In the summer, the male's plumage is marbled brown, with a reddish hue to the neck and breast, a black tail and white wings and underparts. It has two inconspicuous wattles above the eyes, which become red and prominent in the breeding season. The female is similar in appearance but lacks the wattles and has brown feathers scattered among the white feathers on the belly. During winter, the plumage of both sexes becomes completely white, except for the black tail. Immature birds resemble the adults.
The Willow Ptarmigan can be distinguished from the closely related Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) by its larger size and thicker bill and by the fact that it is not generally found above the tree line while the Rock Ptarmigan prefers more elevated, barren habitat. The summer plumage is browner and in the winter, the male Willow Ptarmigan lacks the Rock Ptarmigan's black stripe between the eyes and bill. The White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura) in North America is smaller, has a white tail and finely-barred greyer plumage and lives permanently above the tree line.
The distinctive British Isles subspecies L. l. scoticus (Red Grouse) was once considered a separate true British species but is now classified as a sub-species. This moorland bird is reddish brown all over, except for the white feet, and is common across the north and west of Great Britain and in localised areas on Ireland.
The voice is low-pitched and guttural and includes chuckles, repeated clucking sounds, expostulations. When displaying, the male makes rattles and barking noises. When disturbed it flies off rapidly making a loud call that sounds like go-back, go-back, go-back.
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