Copyright: AW/monacoeye • Iceland, May 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Rock Ptarmigan
Latin: Lagopus muta
Other: Snow Chicken, Partridge (US) • Alpenschneehuhn (De) • Fjällripa (Sv) • Pernice bianca (It) • perdiz nival (Es)
Family: Phasianidae • Pheasants, Grouse, Ptarmigans
Range: Japan, Canada, Scotland, Iceland, Scandinavia, Alps, Greenland etc
Similar: Willow Grouse

Here the Ptarmigan is changing from its white winter plumage, to its mottled brown breeding plumage. A time when it is particularly vulnerable to the Gyr Falcon, as the white plumage is very visible against the stones.More photos...

011 Phasianidae - Pheasants, Partridges, Grouse, Ptarmigans, Francolins, Quail, Fowl & Allies - IOC 2.5 - 2010

Meleagris gallopavo - Wild Turkey - S Canada, USA, N Mexico
Meleagris ocellata - Ocellated Turkey - SE Mexico, Belize, Guatemala

Bonasa umbellus - Ruffed Grouse - Alaska, Canada, N USA

Tetrastes bonasia - Hazel Grouse - NW, NC, NE Eurasia
Tetrastes sewerzowi - Chinese Grouse - C China - New name

Falcipennis falcipennis - Siberian Grouse - NE Eurasia
Falcipennis canadensis - Spruce Grouse - Alaska, Canada, N USA

Tetrao urogallus - Western Capercaillie - NW, NC Eurasia
Tetrao parvirostris - Black-billed Capercaillie - NE Eurasia

Lyrurus tetrix - Black Grouse - N Eurasia
Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi - Caucasian Grouse - Caucasus

Centrocercus urophasianus - Sage Grouse - WC North America
Centrocercus minimus - Gunnison Grouse - SW Colorado, E Utah

Dendragapus obscurus - Dusky Grouse - S Yukon to C Colorado - New name; D. fuliginosus (Sooty Grouse)
Dendragapus fuliginosus - Sooty Grouse - SE Alaska to S California - Split from D. obscurus (Blue is Dusky Grouse)

Tympanuchus phasianellus - Sharp-tailed Grouse - NC, NW North America
Tympanuchus pallidicinctus - Lesser Prairie Chicken - C USA
Tympanuchus cupido - Greater Prairie Chicken - SC Canada to Texas

Lagopus leucura - White-tailed Ptarmigan - W, NW North America
Lagopus muta - Rock Ptarmigan - N North America, Eurasia
Lagopus lagopus - Willow Ptarmigan - N North America, Eurasia

Lerwa lerwa - Snow Partridge - Himalayas

Tetraophasis obscurus - Verreaux's Monal-Partridge - W China
Tetraophasis szechenyii - Szechenyi's Monal-Partridge - Himalayas

Tetraogallus caucasicus - Caucasian Snowcock - Caucasus
Tetraogallus caspius - Caspian Snowcock - SW Eurasia
Tetraogallus himalayensis - Himalayan Snowcock - Himalayas
Tetraogallus tibetanus - Tibetan Snowcock - Himalayas
Tetraogallus altaicus - Altai Snowcock - SW Siberia, W Mongolia

Alectoris graeca - Rock Partridge - S, SE Europe
Alectoris chukar - Chukar Partridge - S Eurasia
Alectoris magna - Przevalski's Partridge - NC China
Alectoris philbyi - Philby's Partridge - SW Arabian Peninsula
Alectoris barbara - Barbary Partridge - N Africa
Alectoris rufa - Red-legged Partridge - SW Europe
Alectoris melanocephala - Arabian Partridge - S Arabian Peninsula

Ammoperdix griseogularis - See-see Partridge - SW Asia
Ammoperdix heyi - Sand Partridge - Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, N Sudan

Francolinus francolinus - Black Francolin - Asia Minor to Bangladesh
Francolinus pictus - Painted Francolin - India, Sri Lanka
Francolinus pintadeanus - Chinese Francolin - Southeast Asia
Francolinus pondicerianus - Grey Francolin - SE Iran through India, Sri Lanka
Francolinus gularis - Swamp Francolin - N India & Nepal to Bangladesh

Peliperdix lathami - Forest Francolin - W, C Africa
Peliperdix coqui - Coqui Francolin - Widespread Africa
Peliperdix albogularis - White-throated Francolin - W, SC Africa
Peliperdix schlegelii - Schlegel's Francolin - C Africa

Scleroptila streptophora - Ring-necked Francolin - EC Africa
Scleroptila africana - Grey-winged Francolin - S Africa
Scleroptila levaillantii - Red-winged Francolin - EC, SC, S Africa
Scleroptila finschi - Finsch's Francolin - SW Africa
Scleroptila shelleyi - Shelley's Francolin - E, SE Africa
Scleroptila psilolaema - Moorland Francolin - E Africa
Scleroptila levaillantoides - Orange River Francolin - NE, S Africa

Dendroperdix sephaena - Crested Francolin - E, SE Africa

Pternistis squamatus - Scaly Francolin - C Africa
Pternistis ahantensis - Ahanta Francolin - W Africa
Pternistis griseostriatus - Grey-striped Francolin - Angola
Pternistis hildebrandti - Hildebrandt's Francolin - E, SE Africa
Pternistis bicalcaratus - Double-spurred Francolin - W, C Africa
Pternistis icterorhynchus - Heuglin's Francolin - C Africa
Pternistis clappertoni - Clapperton's Francolin - C, NE Africa
Pternistis harwoodi - Harwood's Francolin - Ethiopia
Pternistis swierstrai - Swierstra's Francolin - Angola
Pternistis camerunensis - Mount Cameroon Francolin - Cameroon
Pternistis nobilis - Handsome Francolin - C Africa
Pternistis jacksoni - Jackson's Francolin - Kenya
Pternistis castaneicollis - Chestnut-naped Francolin - E Africa
Pternistis ochropectus - Djibouti Francolin - Djibouti
Pternistis erckelii - Erckel's Francolin - NE Africa
Pternistis hartlaubi - Hartlaub's Spurfowl - SW Africa
Pternistis adspersus - Red-billed Spurfowl - SC Africa
Pternistis capensis - Cape Spurfowl - South Africa
Pternistis natalensis - Natal Spurfowl - SE Africa
Pternistis leucoscepus - Yellow-necked Spurfowl - E Africa
Pternistis rufopictus - Grey-breasted Spurfowl - NW Tanzania
Pternistis afer - Red-necked Spurfowl - C, SE Africa
Pternistis swainsonii - Swainson's Spurfowl - SC, SE Africa

Perdix perdix - Grey Partridge - W, WC Eurasia
Perdix dauurica - Daurian Partridge - C Asia
Perdix hodgsoniae - Tibetan Partridge - C Asia

Rhizothera longirostris - Long-billed Partridge - Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo
Rhizothera dulitensis - Hose's Partridge - N Borneo

Margaroperdix madagarensis - Madagascar Partridge - Madagascar

Melanoperdix niger - Black Partridge - Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo

Coturnix coturnix - Common Quail - Europe & C Asia - Africa, India
Coturnix japonica - Japanese Quail - E Eurasia - Southeast Asia
Coturnix coromandelica - Rain Quail - Pakistan to Sri Lanka & Burma
Coturnix delegorguei - Harlequin Quail - Widespread Africa
Coturnix pectoralis - Stubble Quail - SE, SW Australia
Coturnix ypsilophora - Brown Quail - Widespread Australasia

Excalfactoria - King Quail and Blue Quail from Coturnix to Excalfactoria
Excalfactoria chinensis - King Quail - Widespread Asia, Australasia
Excalfactoria adansonii - Blue Quail - Widespread Africa

Anurophasis monorthonyx - Snow Mountains Quail - New Guinea

Perdicula asiatica - Jungle Bush Quail - India, Sri Lanka
Perdicula argoondah - Rock Bush Quail - India
Perdicula erythrorhyncha - Painted Bush Quail - India
Perdicula manipurensis - Manipur Bush Quail - NE India, Bangladesh

Xenoperdix udzungwensis - Udzungwa Forest Partridge - Udzungwa Mountains of S Tanzania
Xenoperdix obscurata - Rubeho Forest Partridge - Rubeho highlands of S Tanzania

Arborophila torqueola - Hill Partridge - W Himalayas to NW Vietnam
Arborophila rufogularis - Rufous-throated Partridge - N India to C Vietnam
Arborophila atrogularis - White-cheeked Partridge - NE India, Burma
Arborophila crudigularis - Taiwan Partridge - Taiwan
Arborophila mandellii - Chestnut-breasted Partridge - NE India to SE Tibet
Arborophila brunneopectus - Bar-backed Partridge - Southeast Asia
Arborophila rufipectus - Sichuan Partridge - SC China
Arborophila gingica - White-necklaced Partridge - SE China
Arborophila davidi - Orange-necked Partridge - S Vietnam
Arborophila cambodiana - Chestnut-headed Partridge - Cambodia
Arborophila diversa - Siamese Partridge - SE Thailand
Arborophila campbelli - Malaysian Partridge - Malaysia
Arborophila rolli - Roll's Partridge - Sumatra
Arborophila sumatrana - Sumatran Partridge - Sumatra
Arborophila orientalis - Grey-breasted Partridge - Java
Arborophila javanica - Chestnut-bellied Partridge - Java
Arborophila rubrirostris - Red-billed Partridge - Sumatra
Arborophila hyperythra - Red-breasted Partridge - Borneo
Arborophila ardens - Hainan Partridge - Hainan
Arborophila charltonii - Chestnut-necklaced Partridge - Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo - Was Scaly-breasted Partridge
Arborophila chloropus - Green-legged Partridge - Southeast Asia - Green-legged Partridge includes ssp tonkiensis of N Vietnam was Scaly-breasted (Chestnut-necklaced) Partridge

Caloperdix oculeus - Ferruginous Partridge - Burma, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo

Haematortyx sanguiniceps - Crimson-headed Partridge - Borneo

Rollulus rouloul - Crested Partridge - Thailand, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo

Bambusicola fytchii - Mountain Bamboo Partridge - NE India to Burma & SC China
Bambusicola thoracicus - Chinese Bamboo Partridge - S China, Taiwan

Galloperdix spadicea - Red Spurfowl - India, Nepal
Galloperdix lunulata - Painted Spurfowl - India
Galloperdix bicalcarata - Sri Lanka Spurfowl - Sri Lanka

Ithaginis cruentus - Blood Pheasant - Himalayas

Tragopan melanocephalus - Western Tragopan - Himalayas
Tragopan satyra - Satyr Tragopan - Himalayas
Tragopan blythii - Blyth's Tragopan - Himalayas
Tragopan temminckii - Temminck's Tragopan - E Himalayas to SC China
Tragopan caboti - Cabot's Tragopan - SE China

Pucrasia macrolopha - Koklass Pheasant - Himalayas to SC China

Lophophorus impejanus - Himalayan Monal - Himalayas
Lophophorus sclateri - Sclater's Monal - E Himalayas
Lophophorus lhuysii - Chinese Monal - C China

Gallus gallus - Red Junglefowl - India, Southeast Asia - includes domestic chicken
Gallus sonneratii - Grey Junglefowl - India
Gallus lafayetii - Sri Lanka Junglefowl - Sri Lanka
Gallus varius - Green Junglefowl - Java, Lesser Sundas

Lophura leucomelanos - Kalij Pheasant - N Pakistan to W Thailand
Lophura nycthemera - Silver Pheasant - Southeast Asia
Lophura edwardsi - Edwards's Pheasant - C Vietnam
Lophura hatinhensis - Vietnamese Pheasant - C Vietnam
Lophura swinhoii - Swinhoe's Pheasant - Taiwan
Lophura hoogerwerfi - Hoogerwerf's Pheasant - Sumatra
Lophura inornata - Salvadori's Pheasant - Sumatra
Lophura erythrophthalma - Crestless Fireback - Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo
Lophura ignita - Crested Fireback - Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo
Lophura diardi - Siamese Fireback - Southeast Asia
Lophura bulweri - Bulwer's Pheasant - Borneo

Crossoptilon crossoptilon - White Eared Pheasant - WC, SC China, Tibet
Crossoptilon harmani - Tibetan Eared Pheasant - Tibet, NE India
Crossoptilon mantchuricum - Brown Eared Pheasant - NE China
Crossoptilon auritum - Blue Eared Pheasant - C China

Catreus wallichii - Cheer Pheasant - Himalayas

Syrmaticus ellioti - Elliot's Pheasant - SE China
Syrmaticus humiae - Mrs. Hume's Pheasant - NE India to N Thailand
Syrmaticus mikado - Mikado Pheasant - Taiwan
Syrmaticus soemmerringii - Copper Pheasant - Japan
Syrmaticus reevesii - Reeves's Pheasant - N, C China

Phasianus colchicus - Common Pheasant - C, E, Eurasia, also S China, Taiwan, N Vietnam
Phasianus versicolor - Green Pheasant - Japan - Split from P. colchicus

Chrysolophus pictus - Golden Pheasant - C, S China
Chrysolophus amherstiae - Lady Amherst's Pheasant - NE Burma, SE Tibet, SW China

Polyplectron chalcurum - Bronze-tailed Peacock-Pheasant - Sumatra
Polyplectron inopinatum - Mountain Peacock-Pheasant - Malay Peninsula
Polyplectron germaini - Germain's Peacock-Pheasant - Vietnam
Polyplectron bicalcaratum - Grey Peacock-Pheasant - Sikkim to C Vietnam
Polyplectron katsumatae - Hainan Peacock-Pheasant - Hainan Is. Asia - Split from P. bicalcaratum
Polyplectron malacense - Malayan Peacock-Pheasant - SW Thailand, W Malaysia
Polyplectron schleiermacheri - Bornean Peacock-Pheasant - Borneo
Polyplectron napoleonis - Palawan Peacock-Pheasant - Philippines

Rheinardia ocellata - Crested Argus - C Vietnam, E Laos, Malaysia

Argusianus argus - Great Argus - Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo

Pavo cristatus - Indian Peafowl - India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
Pavo muticus - Green Peafowl - Southeast Asia

Afropavo congensis - Congo Peacock - Democratic Republic of the Congo