Glacial Ptarmigans

Description: Glacial Ptarmigans are robust, medium-sized grouse, about 14–16 inches in length, with rounded bodies built for cold climates. Their plumage undergoes a dramatic seasonal transformation: in winter, they are coated in immaculate pure white feathers that provide nearly perfect camouflage in snowfields and ice-covered terrain. As spring and summer approach, their feathers molt into mottled grey, brown, and black patterns that blend with rocky outcrops, lichen-covered tundra, and sparse shrubs. Their short, stout beaks are well-suited for foraging tough seeds and berries.