White-tailed Ptarmigan
Photo: John Hill · CC BY-SA 3.0

Partridges, Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies

White-tailed Ptarmigan

Lagopus leucura

LCLeast Concern
Family
Partridges, Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies (Phasianidae)
Order
Galliformes

Overview

The white-tailed ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura), also known as the snow quail, is the smallest bird in the grouse tribe. It is a permanent resident of high altitudes on or above the tree line and is native to Alaska and the mountainous parts of Canada and the western United States. Its plumage is cryptic and varies at different times of the year. In the summer it is speckled in gray, brown and white whereas in winter it is wholly white.

Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Range and habitat

Sources and further reading

Last updated September 29, 2026.