Willow ptarmigan, Denali National Park, Alaska
Willow ptarmigan, Alaska State Bird, in summer plumage, Denali National Park, Alaska.
The Willow Ptarmigan is a common sight in the wilds of Denali National Park, Alaska. With a diet consisting mainly of plants and berries, this hardy bird is well adapted to the harsh Alaskan climate. The 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.
Lagopus lagopus. Photo © copyright by Carl Donohue.