Ptarmigan

Created: May 30, 2022 10:15 AM

In Norway we have two species of ptarmigan. Willow grouse and rock ptarmigan. The species’ names also partly describe their habitats. The rock ptarmigan thrives best high in the mountains, whilst the willow grouse thrives a little lower down, in the lush mountain hillsides. In the north of the country you can see ptarmigan right down to the shoreline. Ptarmigan are herbivores and eat buds and shoots from a range of plants in nature. In winter we often see them feeding on dwarf birch and willow scrub. The ptarmigan can produce large broods, which means the number of ptarmigan can increase quickly. Even so, the number of ptarmigan has declined sharply in modern times, probably because of overly hard hunting.

The rock ptarmigan has very good camouflage and can be difficult to spot. In early summer, when the mother ptarmigan is sitting on her eggs, she may stay put even if you pass at a distance of only a metre. So watch where you tread! Photo: Gina Wigestrand, Snuitide

Photo: Gina Wigestrand, Snuitide

Next steps

• Wildlife and tracks — the hub
• Hare — other small game in the mountains
• Red fox — the ptarmigan’s main predator
• Hunting — the ptarmigan as a game species

Learn more

• Artsdatabanken — species, status, Red List
• Miljødirektoratet — large carnivores — management
• NINA — the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research — research on Norwegian fauna
• Naturveilederen — Bjørn Henrik Stavdal Johansen — nature interpretation