tarmigan
1. Bird Name
English name: Tarmigan
Scientific Name: Lagopus Lagopus
2. Appearance
Tarmigans are distinguished by their changing coloration in different seasons. During the summer, they are a mottled brown with a mottled appearance and a black tail, which makes them seamlessly blend into their rocky environments. By winter, they turn snowy white, with only their eyes and beak visible, allowing them to hide perfectly within snowy landscapes. These birds have short, strong beaks designed for pecking at vegetation and stout bodies. A key identification feature is their feathered feet, which assist them as they move over snowy terrains. Male and female tarmigans show similar colorations, however, females are generally smaller in size.
3. Size
Tarmigans can grow up to an average length of 31-35 cm (12-14 inches), with a wingspan of approximately 54-60 cm (21-24 inches). They weigh between 400-800 grams.
4. Habitat & Distribution
Tarmigans are native to the Arctic regions, inhabiting Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Scotland, and Scandinavia. They prefer open, treeless habitats such as tundra and moorland, often found at high altitudes.
5. Interesting Facts
Tarmigans are the official bird of Nunavut and the symbol for the Gwich’in native people in Canada due to their resilience in the harsh Arctic winters. Another fascinating fact about these birds is that they are one of the few bird species whose sexes sing. Both male and female tarmigans have vocal calls used in various situations.
6. Diet
The tarmigan’s omnivorous diet majorly includes leaves, buds, berries, seeds, and insects. In winter, their diet changes and primarily consists of willow and birch buds.
7. Behavior & Sounds
Tarmigans have an interesting behavior of dust baths, which helps shake off parasites and cleanse their feathers. They dig shallow pits in dust or sand and splash around, coating their feathers. Their call is a series of croaking sounds, “errrr-errrr”, followed by a quick “kerr-kerr-kerr”.
8. Conservation Status
According to the IUCN Red List, tarmigans are classified as ‘Least Concern’ as it is wide-ranging and does not face any major threats.
9. Lifespan
The lifespan of a tarmigan in the wild is typically 4 to 6 years but can live up to 8 years in captivity.
10. Additional Notes
In various languages, the tarmigan is known by different names; ‘Snow-Chicken’ (English), ‘Lírpa’ (Greenlandic), and ‘Riekko’ (Finnish). They have had a long standing relationship with humans; their feathers are prized for tying fishing lures and their meat is often hunted for food in several Arctic cultures. As an essential part of the tundra ecosystem, tarmigans serve as a critical food source for predators while influencing the vegetation structure by their grazing.
