The northern edition · 001

WillowPtarmigan

Lagopus lagopusALSO: WILLOW GROUSE

A quiet original of the northern wild. Built for the cold, dressed for the season, and full of small surprises.

THE WINTER PORTRAIT 68°35′ N / 23°48′ E

Winter white. CAMOUFLAGE,
PERFECTED.

DRAG TO DISCOVER

01 / Body length35–44 cm

02 / Body weight400–800 g

03 / Home rangeCircumpolar

04 / Global IUCN statusLeast concern

A closer look / 01

Nothing here
is by accident.

In a world of long winters and short summers, the little things make all the difference. Every feather has a purpose.

01 — PLUMAGE

Snow-white in winter. Mottled brown in summer. A changing coat helps this master of disguise blend into the landscape.

02 — FEATHERED FEET

Feathered feet work like natural snowshoes, spreading its weight over soft snow and keeping the cold at bay.

03 — SNOW SHELTER

When the wind bites, a burrow in soft snow becomes a surprisingly snug place to rest. Sometimes, shelter is right under your feet.

At home in the wild / 02

Across the northern hemisphere, willow ptarmigan make a life among open tundra, low shrubs, and the edges of the boreal forest.

From Scandinavian fells to willow thickets, look for it at the meeting of open tundra and scrub.

A POLAR PERSPECTIVE · SCHEMATIC, NOT A RANGE MAP