The white-tailed ptarmigan, also known as the snow quail, is the smallest bird in the grouse tribe. It is a permanent resident of high altitudes on or above the tree line and is native to Alaska and the mountainous parts of Canada and the western United States. Its plumage is cryptic and varies at different times of the year. In the summer it is speckled in gray, brown and white whereas in winter it is wholly white. At all times of year the wings, belly and tail are white. The white-tailed ptarmigan has a diet of buds, leaves, flowers and seeds. The nest is a simple depression in the ground in which up to eight eggs are laid. After hatching, the chicks soon leave the nest. At first they eat insects but later move on to an adult diet, their mother using vocalisations to help them find suitable plant food. The population seems to be stable and the IUCN lists this species as being of "Least Concern".
Region
North American Cordillera
Typical Environment
This species inhabits alpine and subalpine tundra above treeline from Alaska and Yukon through the Canadian Rockies to the Rocky Mountains of the western United States. It favors windswept ridgelines, talus slopes, krummholz edges, and moist alpine meadows with dwarf willow and birch. In winter it often shifts slightly downslope but remains in open, rocky tundra and willow flats where browse is accessible. Snow burrows are used for night roosting and severe weather shelter. Local movements track snowmelt and the availability of buds and catkins.
Altitude Range
1500–4500 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The white-tailed ptarmigan is the smallest grouse and is uniquely adapted to alpine life, with fully feathered toes that act like snowshoes. It changes plumage seasonally, becoming mottled brown-gray in summer and pure white in winter for camouflage, while the tail remains white year-round. Males display red eyebrow combs during the breeding season. It often roosts in snow burrows to conserve heat in winter.
A white-tailed ptarmigan in fully-white winter plumage.
A ptarmigan displaying its natural camouflage, matching the patterns of the lichen covered rock of its environment.
An individual with late summer plumage blends into subalpine tundra
Full summer plumage
Temperament
cryptic and relatively tame
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, direct flights
Social Behavior
Generally monogamous; males defend small territories in spring while females select nest sites. The nest is a shallow ground scrape lined with vegetation, typically sheltered by rocks or dwarf shrubs. Clutches usually contain 4–8 eggs; the female incubates while the male remains nearby, and the precocial chicks follow the hen soon after hatching.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations include soft clucks and chuckles, with males giving low croaks and rattling calls during courtship and territorial displays. Contact calls are subdued, aiding communication at close range in windy alpine habitats.
