From Opus

Lagopus muta

Photo by Gaukur
Photographed: Husavik, NE-Iceland.

[edit] Identification

31-35cm. Its feathers moult from white in winter to brown in spring or summer. Breeding males have greyish upper parts with white wings and underparts. In winter, plumage becomes completely white except for the black tail.

[edit] Distribution

Arctic and subarctic Eurasia and North America including Greenland.

[edit] Taxonomy

Polytypic. Consists of about 29 subspecies.

[edit] Habitat

Rocky mountainsides and tundra.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Diet

Its diet includes birch and willow buds and catkins when available. They will also take various seeds, leaves, flowers and berries of other plant species. Insects are also taken by the developing young.

[edit] External Links