Willow Ptarmigan - Grouse Hunting - Upland Hunting
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Description
Also known as willow grouse, willow ptarmigan is closely associated with thickets of dwarf willow on the tundra. These gamebirds molt their body feathers twice every year, i.e., from mottled gray or brown in summer to white during the winter season to camouflage all year long. During the winter season, their feet are heavily feathered to act as snowshoes. The snowshoes allow the willow ptarmigan walk with ease over fresh drifts.
Description
The Willow ptarmigan is a medium to a large bird that dwells mainly on the ground. Although the males and females are about the same size, adult willow ptarmigan are 35 to 55 cm long, weigh 430 to 810g, and have a wingspan ranging from 60 to 65 cm.
Willow ptarmigan has a reasonably long neck, short feathered legs, broad bill, and a short, moderately rounded tail. The male willow ptarmigan has a marbled brown plumage with a reddish hue that ranges from the neck to breast, white wings & underparts, and a black tail. Males have two inconspicuous wattles above their eyes. During the breeding season, the wattles become red and prominent.
On the other hand, females have the same appearance as males, although they lack the brown feathers and wattles. During the winter season, both sexes plumage becomes white except for a few black feathers in the tail.
Forage behavior
Willow ptarmigan forages by walking and picking at vegetation. The birds use their bills to nip off food.
Diet
The diet comprises mainly of seeds, leaves, twigs, and buds. Adult willow ptarmigan are vegetarians feeding on buds, leaves, and twigs of alder, birch, and willow. These game birds also feed on berries, including blueberry and crowberry, among others. Besides feeding on insects to supplement the diet, willow ptarmigan swallow grit to facilitate the digestion of rough plant materials.
Nesting
The nest is built on the ground by females in a shallow depression lined with moss, feathers, leaves, and grass. In spring, the males defend their territory by raising the red combs, throwing the head back, drooping the wings, fanning the tail, and strutting around.
Eggs
Females lay 5 to 14 red eggs with blotchy blackish-brown spots and incubate for 21 to 22 days. The young leave the nest with the female willow ptarmigan a few hours after hatching. Although the young feed themselves, they are tended by the females. After 10 to 12 days, females start making short flights, although they mature fully after several weeks.
