Rock ptarmigan

A northern grouse adapted to treeless tundra and alpine rock.

Field guide

A northern grouse adapted to treeless tundra and alpine rock.

Identification

Shared features

White in winter; mottled gray-brown in summer, with feathered feet and short rounded wings.

Male

Both sexes turn mostly white in winter and mottled gray-brown in summer. In spring the male develops dark breeding plumage with a red eye comb; a dark eye stripe remains visible in winter.

Female

The female is cryptic brown-gray during nesting and white in winter, usually without the male's dark winter eye stripe. Season and molt can blur these marks.

Habitat

Open Arctic tundra, stony ridges and low vegetation in northern Quebec.

Where to look during the day

Morning

At dawn, search wind-sheltered ridges and low shrubs where birds feed.

Afternoon

In the afternoon, scan rocks and shallow sheltered depressions for resting birds.

Evening

At dusk, watch low vegetation where feeding resumes.

Sounds

Low, croaking or rattling calls, especially from displaying males.

Recorded calls

Rock ptarmigan

Field recording of a rock ptarmigan. A narrower call type or the caller's sex is not assigned to this clip.

demianhiss · Recording source

Natural history source: Read the source

Bag limits

Bag and possession summaries.

-Ptarmigan: bag limit of 10 per day, and a total possession limit of 30.

Daily: 10Possession: 30

Official bag-limit source