The Ptarmigan is seasonally camouflaged by its feathers with a mixture of grey, brown and black in summer, whilst in winter it becomes totally white except for its tail and eye-patch, which remain black. It breeds in the highest mountains of the Highlands of Scotland on the Arctic like landscape there. Birds are residents, seldom moving far from breeding sites. In severe cold weather, birds may move from the highest ground to the lower edges of forests. Because of the remote habitat in which it lives, it has only a few predators—such as the Golden Eagle, and can be surprisingly approachable.
This Ptarmigan which was spotted by Robin Harvey on our recent expedition to Beinne Sgulaird on Saturday 11th August shows what a master of camouflage it is, merging into the rocks and lichens in this arctic landscape.
Please send in your sightings using the form below, or email sightings@lnhg.org.uk with the details if you prefer. If you are not sure of the identity of your species, please send a photo to sightings@lnhg.org.uk, or put one on the LNHG Facebook page.
Comments or questions are welcome.
By filling in this form you consent to your record being passed on to the appropriate recording scheme. Your email address will not form part of the record and will not be passed on to anyone.
Carl Farmer
LNHG Biological Records Manager
Photo by Carl Farmer
Camera : Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150