White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

White-tailed Ptarmigan

Lagopus leucura (Richardson, 1831)

31–34 cmLength355 gWeight

The white-tailed ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura), also known as the snow quail, is the smallest bird in the grouse tribe.

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

No records at the public birding hotspots we track. It may be rare, remote, or its locations protected.

About

The white-tailed ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura), also known as the snow quail, is the smallest bird in the grouse tribe. It is a permanent resident of high altitudes on or above the tree line and is native to Alaska and the mountainous parts of Canada and the western United States. Its plumage is cryptic and varies at different times of the year.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the White-tailed Ptarmigan?

The White-tailed Ptarmigan is about 31–34 cm long and weighs around 355 g.

Where does the White-tailed Ptarmigan live?

Its breeding range: North America: western, northwestern.

Is the White-tailed Ptarmigan endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the White-tailed Ptarmigan as Least Concern.

What does the White-tailed Ptarmigan eat?

Main food: Land plants.

What family is the White-tailed Ptarmigan in?

It belongs to the family Pheasants & Allies (Phasianidae), order Galliformes.

At a glance

Length
31–34 cm
Weight
355 g
Habitat
Grassland
Diet
Land plants
Lifestyle
Active on the ground
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
173 mm
Tail
86 mm
Bill
17 mm
Tarsus
31 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

North America: western, northwestern

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Pheasants & Allies Phasianidae
Genus
Lagopus

Other birds in the genus Lagopus

Red GrouseRed GrouseLagopus scoticaWillow PtarmiganWillow PtarmiganLagopus lagopusRock PtarmiganRock PtarmiganLagopus mutaUdzungwa Forest PartridgeUdzungwa Forest PartridgeXenoperdix udzungwensisFerruginous PartridgeFerruginous PartridgeCaloperdix oculeusCrested PartridgeCrested PartridgeRollulus rouloulBlack PartridgeBlack PartridgeMelanoperdix nigerHill PartridgeHill PartridgeArborophila torqueolaSichuan PartridgeSichuan PartridgeArborophila rufipectusChestnut-breasted PartridgeChestnut-breasted PartridgeArborophila mandellii
White-tailed Ptarmigan

Download illustration

Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from reference photos. ↗

WebP · 1070 px

Heard it but can't see it? Mingji identifies birds by sound and photo, on your phone.

In other languages