Animalia Life
Lagopus lagopus
SUBFAMILY
Tetraoninae
TAXONOMY
Tetrao lagopus Linnaeus, 1758, Swedish Lapland. Nineteen subspecies.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Red grouse, willow grouse; French: Lagopйde des
saules; German: Moorschneehuhn; Spanish: Lagуpodo Comъn.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
14–17 in (36–43 cm); male 0.9–1.8 lb (405–795 g); female
0.9–1.5 lb (405–700 g). Males have a rusty head and upperparts,
bright red eye combs, white underparts, and a black tail.
Females are grayer, are more heavily barred on the breast and
flanks, and lack the bright red eye combs. Both sexes are all
white in winter except for black tail.
DISTRIBUTION
Circumpolar between 47° and 76°N.
HABITAT
Arctic tundra, sub-arctic scrub, and boreal forest edge; preferring
moister areas with dwarf deciduous trees.
BEHAVIOR
In large groups of variable sex ratio in winter; males highly territorial
in spring through calling from landmarks and in flight.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Willow and birch buds and twigs in winter; invertebrates taken
especially by young chicks in summer; berries in fall.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Mostly monogamous. Pairs occupy exclusive territories; nesting
starts April–June depending on latitude; clutch size eight to 11;
incubation 22 days; male broods chicks; families remain together
until fall.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened. Locally common and widespread.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Locally managed to provide a substantial hunted surplus;
keenly hunted in the United Kingdom, Scandinavian countries,
Finland, and Russia, with 2.4 million birds taken annually in
these areas together.
Photo Gallery of - Willow ptarmigan
