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;[[:Category:Lagopus|Lagopus]] muta | ;[[:Category:Lagopus|Lagopus]] muta | ||
[[Image:Rock_Ptarmigan.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Gaukur<br/> | [[Image:Rock_Ptarmigan.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Gaukur<br/> | ||
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Arctic and subarctic [[Eurasia]] and [[North America]] including [[Greenland]]. | Arctic and subarctic [[Eurasia]] and [[North America]] including [[Greenland]]. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| + | Polytypic. Consists of about 29 subspecies. | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Rocky mountainsides and tundra. | Rocky mountainsides and tundra. | ||
Revision as of 17:16, 13 August 2008
- Lagopus muta
Identification
31-35cm. Its feathers moult from white in winter to brown in spring or summer. Breeding males have greyish upper parts with white wings and underparts. In winter, plumage becomes completely white except for the black tail.
Distribution
Arctic and subarctic Eurasia and North America including Greenland.
Taxonomy
Polytypic. Consists of about 29 subspecies.
Habitat
Rocky mountainsides and tundra.
Behaviour
Diet
Its diet includes birch and willow buds and catkins when available. They will also take various seeds, leaves, flowers and berries of other plant species. Insects are also taken by the developing young.
