Willow Grouse

__NOTOC__Taxobox
name = Willow Grouse
status = LC
status_system = iucn3.1


image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Lagopus lagopus alascensis" in autumn plumage, Lake Clark National Park
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Galliformes
familia = Tetraonidae
genus = "Lagopus"
species = "L. lagopus"
binomial = "Lagopus lagopus"
binomial_authority = (Linnaeus, 1758)
subdivision_ranks = Subspecies
subdivision = some 10-20, including
* "L. l. lagopus" Taxobox_authority | author = (Linnaeus | date = 1758) Scandinavian Willow Grouse
* "L. l. scoticus" Taxobox_authority | author = (Latham | date = 1787) Red Grouse
* "L. l. alascensis" Taxobox_authority | author = Swarth | date = 1926 Alaskan Willow Ptarmigan
* "L. l. variegatus" Taxobox_authority | author = Salomonsen | date = 1936 Trondheimsfjord Willow Grouse
synonyms =
* "Tetrao lagopus" Linnaeus, 1758

The Willow Grouse (Europe) or Willow Ptarmigan (North America), "Lagopus lagopus", is a medium-sized gamebird in the grouse family. It is a sedentary species, breeding in birch and other forests and tundra across northern Eurasia, and in Alaska and northern Canada. It is the state bird of Alaska. During the last ice age, the species occurred in continental Europe (Tomek & Bocheński 2005).

The spring male is brown above with a reddish neck and white wings and underparts. The female is similar, but lacks the pure white belly. In winter, both sexes' plumages become completely white except that the tail is black. They can be distinguished from the winter Ptarmigan by habitat (not venturing above the tree line), larger size, thicker bill, and lack of black between the eye and bill in the winter male.

The distinctive British subspecies, the Red Grouse ("Lagopus lagopus scotica") has sometimes been considered a separate species. It is a moorland bird, and is basically reddish brown in all plumages, never going white.

The male's song is a loud "go-back go-back".

These are hardy vegetarian birds, but insects are also taken by the developing young.

The male Willow Grouse is unique in its nesting behaviour. In all other species of grouse, only the female takes responsibility for the young. However, the male Willow Grouse often takes responsibility of the young by staunchly defending his territory and his young. Males have even been documented to have attacked a Grizzly Bear and will attack humans who distract their young.

cientific name

The Willow Grouse's scientific name, "Lagopus lagopus" is derived from Ancient Greek "lagos" (λαγως), meaning "hare", + "pous" (πους), "foot", in reference to the bird's feathered legs ("see also" Snowshoe Hare).

Gallery

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

* Tomek, Teresa & Bocheński, Zygmunt (2005): Weichselian and Holocene bird remains from Komarowa Cave, Central Poland. "Acta zoologica cracoviensia" 48A(1-2): 43-65. [http://www.ingentaconnect.com/search/download?pub=infobike%3a%2f%2fisez%2fazc%2f2005%2f00000048%2fF0020001%2fart00005&mimetype=application%2fpdf PDF fulltext]

External links

* [http://www.gct.org.uk/text03.asp?PageId=110 The Game Conservancy Trust Red Grouse Page]
* [http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/r/redgrouse/index.asp RSPB Red Grouse Page]
* [http://edu.taivalkoski.fi/tk-koulut/lukio/linnusto/riekko.mpg Video clip of male willow grouse in winter]
* [http://www.bird-stamps.org/cspecies/3600500.htm Stamps: Willow Ptarmigan] (for Belarus, Canada, Finland, Ireland, United States) with worldwide RangeMap
* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=946 Willow Grouse videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
* [http://vireo.acnatsci.org/search.html?Form=Search&SEARCHBY=Scientific&KEYWORDS=lagopus+lagopus&showwhat=images&AGE=All&SEX=All&ACT=All&Search=Search&VIEW=All&ORIENTATION=All&RESULTS=24 Willow Ptarmigan photo gallery] VIREO