Grouse
There are seven species of grouse and ptarmigan (family phasianidae) on the Alaska checklist, all of which are year round residents. Willow Ptarmigan is the official state bird of Alaska.
Spruce Grouse Falcipennis canadensis, Lazy Mountain, Palmer, 2 February 2006.
Willow Ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus, Savage River, Denali National Park, 20 July 2006.
Note the large bill with strongly curved culmen compared to the much smaller bill of the Rock Ptarmigan (see below).
Molting male Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus muta, Canning River, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, 19 June 2006.
Female Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus muta sitting tight on a nest, Canning River, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, 23 June 2006.
White-tailed Ptarmigan Lagopus leucura, Arctic Valley, 5 March 2006.
The white-tailed Ptarmigan is the smallest of the three Ptarmigan and often takes the most work to find in Alaska.
