22 



BIRDS OF AMERICA 



ROCK PTARMIGAN 



Lagopus rupestris rupestris ( Gniclin) 



A. O. U. Number 302 



Description. — Length, 15 inches. Adults in Sum- 

 mer: Entire plumage with the exception of wings and 

 tail, which are white, brownish-yellow barred with 

 blackish-brown; the lower parts of the male, e.xcept 

 breast and sides, white. Adults in Winter: Pure 

 white, the tail black and a black stripe from the bill to 

 eye and behind it. Immature in First Winter : Simi- 

 lar to adult female in winter. 



Nest and Eggs. — Nest and location similar to the 

 Willow Ptarmigan. Eggs : 6 to 10, indistinguishable 

 from those of the Willow Ptarmigan. 



Distribution. — Arctic America; breeds from Mel- 

 ville Island to Melville Peninsula and south on the 

 Barren Grounds from Alaska to Ungava ; also above 

 the limit of trees south to central Yukon ; south in 

 winter to southern Mackenzie and southern Ungava. 



The habits of the Rock Ptarmigans are much 

 like those of their relative, the Willow Ptarmi- 

 gan, though they are not such prolific breeders. 

 During the nesting season their coloration so 

 closely resembles that of their surroundings that 

 they are unlikely to be discovered except by acci- 

 dent. Like other birds which build on the 

 ground, they seem to be aware of this fact, and 

 will let an intruder almost tread upon them with- 

 out stirring. 



The Rock Ptarmigan is common on the main- 

 land of Alaska where it is to be found chiefly on 



high ground in the summer months, whence it is 

 driven into the valleys by the fierce winter 

 storms. 



The scientists recognize six variations of 

 this species ; they are : Reinhardt's Ptarmigan 

 (Lagopus rupestris rcinhardi), Nelson's Ptar- 

 migan (Lagopus rupestris nclsoni), Turner's 

 Ptarmigan (Lagopus rupestris atkliensis), 

 Townsend's Ptarmigan (Lagopus rupestris toivn- 

 sendi), the Adak, or Chamberlain's, Ptarmigan 

 {Lagopus rupestris chamherlaini), and Dixon's 

 Ptarmigan (Lagopus rupestris dixoni). 



Photos by I. S. Howe 



Courtesy of Nat. Asso. Aud. Soc. 



ROCK PTARMIGANS 



These pictures were taken Christmas Day on Turkey Creek, near Morrison, Colorado: they are a good illustration of the protective 

 value of the dress of the Ptarmigans; the shadows on the snow can be seen at a greater distance than can the birds 



