Willow Grouse
\nThe
Willow Grouse (
Lagopus lagopus) is a medium-sized
bird in the
grouse family. It is a sedentary species, breeding across northern
Eurasia in birch and other forests and tundra.
It also occurs in
Alaska, and northern
Canada, where it is called the
Willow Ptarmigan; this is the state bird for Alaska.
The spring male is brown above with a reddish neck and white wings and underparts. The female is similar, but lacks the brown. In winter, both sexes become completely white. They can be distinguished from the winter
Ptarmigan by habitat, larger size, thicker bill, and lack of black between the eye and bill in the winter male.
The distinctive
British form, the
Red Grouse (
Lagopus lagopus scoticus) has sometimes been considered a separate species. It is a moorland bird, and is basically reddish brown in all plumages, never going white.
The male's song is a loud "go-back go back".
These are hardy vegetarian
birds, but insects are also taken by the developing young. The female takes all responsibility for nesting and caring for the chicks, as is typical with gamebirds.
Lagopus in the scientific name refers to the feathered legs.
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