Male Willow Ptarmigan, chugach National Forest, Kenai Peninsula,
Chugach National Forest
A male Willow Ptarmigan, the Alaska State Bird, in spring plumage, Resurrection Trail, Chugach National Forest, Chugach Mountains, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska.
The male Willow Ptarmigan's plumage changes with the seasons, transitioning from a mottled brown and white in the winter to a bright white and red in the spring.
The Willow Ptarmigan's spring plumage is a beautiful sight to behold, with its bright white and red feathers standing out against the green landscape of Alaska.
Lagopus lagopus. Photo © copyright by Carl Donohue.