Willow Ptarmigan
Lagopus lagopus
The photos directly above and below show a closeup of a willow ptarmigan seen just east of Highway Pass...................August 2006. She was very uncomfortable in the open, and slowly crept back to sparse cover under a small willow. Note the effective camouflage patterns on her back.
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Four additional photos of willow ptarmigans with their plummage transitioning to their winter camouflage. Note how the plummage helps blend each individual bird into its surroundings of willows and horsetails. Note also the heavily feathered feet as seen on the bird at lower left. Photographed along upper Moose Creek adjacent to Mt. Galen, Denali National Park....................September 7, 2009.
Male willow ptarmigan. Park Road west of Wonder Lake.
Female willow ptarmigan. Park Road west of Wonder Lake.
Willow ptarmigan chick. Park Road west of Wonder Lake.
Paul Slichter