Photo: John Hill / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Game Birds

White-tailed Ptarmigan

Lagopus leucura

White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura) — Gamebirds of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Canada Birds of the United States Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Northwest Territories Birds of Yukon Territory Birds of Alaska Birds of California Birds of Colorado Birds of Idaho

By family

Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of Canada Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of the United States Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of Alberta Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of British Columbia Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of Alaska Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of California Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of Colorado Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of Idaho

See what's near you right now

The White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura) is a member of the Phasianidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 355 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Galliformes
Family Phasianidae Pheasants & Allies
Genus Lagopus
Species leucura

Where it lives

Western, northwestern

North America

Quick facts

Weight: 355 g
Diet: Plant-eaters
Family: Phasianidae
Order: Galliformes
Habitat: Grassland & open country

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Rock Ptarmigan

Lagopus muta

Least Concern

Snow Partridge

Lerwa lerwa

Least Concern

Siberian Grouse

Falcipennis falcipennis

Least Concern

Painted Spurfowl

Galloperdix lunulata

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The White-tailed Ptarmigan feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.

Behaviour

A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The White-tailed Ptarmigan is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura) belongs to the Phasianidae family of the order Galliformes. Its range spans North America. Its distribution covers NA w, nw.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 355 g, with a wing length of about 17.3 cm and a tail of around 8.6 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.8 million km².

Songs & calls

White-tailed Ptarmigan — Uncertain

Recorded by Bruce Lagerquist Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the White-tailed Ptarmigan?

The White-tailed Ptarmigan is a large bird that weighs around 355 g.

Where does the White-tailed Ptarmigan live?

The White-tailed Ptarmigan is found across North America with a range covering NA w, nw, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.

What family does the White-tailed Ptarmigan belong to?

The White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura) belongs to the Phasianidae family, in the order Galliformes.

What does the White-tailed Ptarmigan eat?

The White-tailed Ptarmigan feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.

Does the White-tailed Ptarmigan migrate?

The White-tailed Ptarmigan is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the White-tailed Ptarmigan endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the White-tailed Ptarmigan make?

1 real field recording of the White-tailed Ptarmigan can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the White-tailed Ptarmigan's range?

The White-tailed Ptarmigan has a mapped global range of about 1.8 million km².