Ptarmigans

I remember one day as I was backcountry skiing near Parker's Ridge after a healthy dump of snow, when suddenly the snow at my feet exploded. For a split second I'm sure that my pulse rate was non-existent as several snow white ptarmigan flushed from below the snow. This snow-white bird is well adapted to life in the alpine, and will let fresh snow bury it to provide insulation against the cold. Only when something passes almost directly over top of it will it flush in a flurry of snow and feathers.

It's perfect camouflage makes it virtually impossible to see and it's lack of fear makes it easy to find yourself at close quarters before you know the bird is near. During the short alpine summer, it's a mottled brown and white colour. This allows it to disappear among the scrub willows of the high country. Also interesting is that the white feathers of winter are more efficient at keeping the ptarmigan warm. Since the feathers aren't filled with colour pigments, they are filled with air. This added "dead air" space in the feathers provides a warmer winter plumage.

Ptarmigans can be distinguished from grouse in two ways--ptarmigan have feathers on their feet while grouse don't, and the tail is narrower on ptarmigans. We have two different ptarmigan species and they are also distinguished by their tails. The white-tailed ptarmigan has, of course, a completely white tail, while the willow ptarmigan has black on the outside edge.

During the winter months, they move about the deep snows of the alpine scratching out a meagre existence on the tips of twigs, buds and whatever seeds they can find. The summer provides a more leisurely lifestyle as the alpine explodes with a short-lived diversity of plant life. They aren't very fussy as to what they eat, happily munching a variety of flowers. buds, shoots, seeds and any insects they can catch.

The nests are not very elaborate, consisting of a small cup-like nest made directly on the ground. This is typical of most grouse and ptarmigan. After a few weeks, the mottled eggs hatch and leave the nest almost immediately. They begin to fly in another two to three weeks and this quick turn around allows two broods to be fledged in a single season in many areas. Hiking in the alpine, it's common to encounter a family of ptarmigan making their way across a meadow. Unconcerned with the hiker, they trod along, unaware that their alpine domain has been invaded.

Ptarmigan make for tasty morsels for the areas hawks and eagles. They rely on their camouflage to protect them, and rarely flush even when threatened. They prefer to freeze and attempt to disappear, or to walk away. As a last resort they flush and fly a short distance.