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Ptarmigan

©Tom Marshall

Ptarmigan flock

©Mark Hamblin/2020VISION

Ptarmigan

©Margaret Holland

Ptarmigan

©Stuart Anthony

Ptarmigan

The ptarmigan is a master of disguise - matching its Highland surroundings perfectly by turning snow-white in winter and rock-grey in summer. It is confined to the mountains of Scotland, so is difficult to spot.

Scientific name

Lagopus mutus

When to see

January to December

Species information

Statistics

Length: 34-36cm

Wingspan: 54-60cm

Weight: 400-500g
Average lifespan: 3-4 years
Classified in the UK as Red under the Birds of Conservation Concern 5: the Red List for Birds (2021).

About

The ptarmigan, also known as the 'rock ptarmigan', is a plump bird, a little larger than a grey partridge. It is exclusively found in the Scottish Highlands. Mature birds eat seeds, berries, nuts and leaves, while juveniles also eat invertebrates. When breeding, males usually mate with one hen, producing one brood a year of around seven eggs.

How to identify

In winter, the ptarmigan has thick, snow-white plumage. It moults in summer, becoming a flecked mixture of brown, grey and black.

Distribution

Found only in the Scottish Highlands.

Did you know?

Male ptarmigans can be identified by the bright red eye-patches they sport in the summer. In winter, they turn almost completely white to blend into their cold, snowy surroundings.