169 
The females are heavily barred with dark brown and ochre, the latter being pre- 
dominant. They are not nearly as red in general effect as the male. 
Distinctions. A small Grouse. Feet feathered to toes (Figure 193) and white wings 
distinguish them as Ptarmigan. The black tail always separates the Willow from the White- 
tailed Ptarmigan, and the larger bill from the Rock Ptarmigan. The greatest difficult} 
of separation will be from summer and autumn plumages of Rock Ptarmigan. The male 
is recognizable by colour in summer or autumn by the more general reddish effect, especially 
the large masses of almost even red on neck and breast; neither sex ever shows the fine 
pepper and salt vermiculation that is so characteristic of the autumn plumage of the 
other two species. Females in the summer plumage are difficult to separate by colour 
characters from the parallel plumage of the Rock Ptarmigan; size, especially of the bill, 
which is larger and less slender, makes the most reliable criterion (compare Figures 194 
and 195). The bills may be variable in size, but no Rock Ptarmigan has the bill quite as 
heavy as the lightest of this species. 
Figure 194 
Specific details of Willow Ptarmigan; natural size. 
Field Marks. As Ptarmigan, in winter, by nearly complete whiteness and in summer 
by white patches on body plumage and white wings. From the White-tailed at any season 
by black tail. Probably rarely separable in life from the Rock Ptarmigan. 
Distribution. Northern parts of northern hemisphere. In America across the continent 
mostly north of tree limits in summer, migrating occasionally to northern edge of prairies 
in winter. Also occurring at some elevation south to central British Columbia. 
SUBSPECIES. The generally recognized race of Willow Ptarmigan throughout most 
of western Canada and also occurring in Europe is the type form, Lagopus lagopus lagopus. 
Alexander’s Ptarmigan Lagopux lagopus alexandrae, a southern Alaskan coast form, has 
been reported from Porcher island, British Columbia, near the Alaska-British Columbia 
boundary. 
302. Rock Ptarmigan, arctic ptarmigan. Lagopus rupestris. L, 13. The inter- 
mediate in size of the three Ptarmigan. In winter, all white except a black tail and usually 
a black bar through eye to the base of bill (Figure 195). A scarlet comb over the eye is 
prominent in spring and may be present to a lesser degree at other seasons. 
