Willow Ptarmigan Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesWillow Ptarmigan
Adult male (Willow)
Medium-sized stocky bird with a short tail and a short, stout bill. Breeding males have a red eyebrow, a chestnut neck, and a white belly.
© Andy Bankert / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 20, 2020Nonbreeding adult (Willow)
Males and females turn white in the winter and blend in with their snowy surroundings.
© Nick Saunders / Macaulay LibrarySaskatchewan, April 07, 2018Males
Calls include a low series of clucks that can accelerate into an odd nasal growl.
© Eric Liner / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 26, 2007Adult (Willow)
This individual is molting into its white winter plumage. Its brown and rusty patches are being replaced by white feathers. Note feathered feet.
© France Desbiens / Macaulay LibraryManitoba, September 29, 2016Female (Willow)
Medium-sized stocky bird with a short and stout bill. Females are mottled in brown, black, and white during the breeding season.
© Alex Lamoreaux / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 14, 2017Breeding male (Willow)
Found in open tundra, especially in areas heavily vegetated with grasses, mosses, herbs, and shrubs.
© Zak Pohlen / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 27, 2017Similar SpeciesWhite-tailed Ptarmigan
Breeding female
Female White-tailed Ptarmigans are darker brown overall and tend to have paler throats. In flight, females have white (not black) outer tail feathers.
© Steve Collins / Macaulay LibraryColorado, July 07, 2011Similar SpeciesWhite-tailed Ptarmigan
Adult male
Male White-tailed Ptarmigans have a brownish gray (not cinnamon) head and neck and brownish (not cinnamon) speckling on the flanks. Tail is entirely white unlike Willow Ptarmigan.
© Chris Wood / Macaulay LibraryColorado, October 01, 2015Similar SpeciesWhite-tailed Ptarmigan
Molting adult
This White-tailed Ptarmigans is molting into its all white winter plumage. Their tail is entirely white unlike Willow Ptarmigans, which have black outer tail feathers that are visible in flight.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryColorado, April 29, 2015Similar SpeciesRock Ptarmigan
Breeding female
Female Rock Ptarmigans look very similar to Willow Ptarmigans, but they have a smaller bill. Note habitat differences; Rock Ptarmigans are found in barren rocky tundra whereas Willow Ptarmigans tend to occur in tundra areas with more vegetation.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 06, 2012Similar SpeciesRock Ptarmigan
Breeding male
Male Rock Ptarmigans are darker brown than Willows, which are more cinnamon colored. Also note habitat differences; Rocks in rocky and barren tundra and Willows in vegetated tundra.
© Mark Davidson / Macaulay LibraryNunavut, July 18, 2012Similar SpeciesRock Ptarmigan
Nonbreeding male
Nonbreeding Rock Ptarmigans have a black stripe in front of the eye that Willows lack.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 24, 2013Similar SpeciesSpruce Grouse
Male
Spruce Grouse have a black breast and grayish head that Willow Ptarmigans lack. Found in dense spruce forests not open tundra.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryMaine, May 09, 2011Similar SpeciesSpruce Grouse
Female
Female Spruce Grouse are more heavily barred brown and white than female Willow Ptarmigans. Found in dense spruce forests not open tundra.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 20, 2012Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies(Order: Galliformes, Family: Phasianidae)
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