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Lagopus leucura

Photo by bowerbird

[edit] Identification

30-32cm. In winter, it is pure white except for a black beak and eyes. In summer, it has a mottled and barred brown head, breast, and back with white wings, belly, and tail.

[edit] Distribution

Western United States, Canada and Alaska.

[edit] Taxonomy

Five subspecies are recognized:^[1]

• L.l. peninsularis - South-central Alaska
• L.l. leucura - Northern Yukon, western British Columbia and western Alberta to northern border of US
• L.l. saxatilis - Vancouver Island.
• L.l. rainierensis - Cascade mountains of Washington
• L.l. altipetens - Rocky Mountains of US.

[edit] Habitat

Open country in high mountains.

Photo by Dave B Smith
Winter plumaged bird

[edit] Behaviour

4-8 buff, faintly spotted eggs are laid in a hollow on the ground lined with a small amount of grass, leaves, and feathers. Males remain with the females until the eggs are hatched after an incubation period of 23 days.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.

• List of references

[edit] External Links