In Scotland the ptarmigan is an iconic bird, giving its name to endless companies (often wilderness-related), hotels and restaurants – most notable among them being the Ptarmigan Restaurant, 1097 metres up on the summit of Cairn Gorm, Scotland’s second highest peak. Yet although its name is so widely invoked, relatively few people have seen the ptarmigan, restricted as it is to some of the highest and bleakest parts of Scotland.
Basic Facts About the Ptarmigan
There are different species of ptarmigan (a member of the grouse family) but the rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) is the only one to be found in the United Kingdom. Elsewhere it has a wide global range, being found in almost all areas of alpine or arctic habitat in the northern hemisphere. The Birdguide website lists breeding populations in European countries, as far south as Austria, Switzerland and even Andorra.
At 30-35 cm in length and with a wingspan of 55-60 cm, the ptarmigan is not dissimilar in size to a chicken. The birds have small, rounded heads. They are the only British birds to change plumage in the winter - greyish-brown summer colouring renders them effectively invisible against rocky terrain, while winter plumage of pure white (except for a black tail) provides camouflage against snow.
Ptarmigan can fly but do not often do so, making them effectively ground-dwelling birds – their feathered feet are adapted to walking on snow. They feed, roost and nest on the ground, flocking together in the autumn and winter as the weather becomes harsh. They will even make scrapes as roosts on snow-covered terrain.
Ptarmigan are Arctic dwellers by nature and theirs is a harsh environment in which to live. Their diet is of berries, shoots, seeds and leaves from alpine plants, together with summer insects. When snow lies on the ground they will search for food in areas where the snow has blown thin, though they can sometimes be forced down to lower levels by severe winter conditions.
Ptarmigan in Scotland
Despite being so widespread globally and within Europe, the ptarmigan is restricted within the United Kingdom by the limitations of its habitat. It is found only in Scotland, where there are an estimated 10,000 breeding pairs. Within Scotland it is restricted to high mountain areas, with the main population being found on the Cairngorm plateau. The birds also occur elsewhere in the country, including Ben Lawers, Ben Lomond and even reportedly in the Hebrides (Arkive).
The ptarmigan thrives in Scotland. Unlike related species such as the capercaillie it is not considered under any threat, has no conservation status and, as a game bird, may even be legally shot. On the Cairngorms there have been issues for local populations with ski developments attracting crows (which eat ptarmigan eggs) and local increases in mortality caused by the birds colliding with ski lifts.
Despite the birds’ success, however, there are early concerns that changes to climate may be having an impact on the local populations. It is feared in some quarters that warmer temperatures in both summer and winter may be affecting the availability of the plants and insects which make up their diet.
A study undertaken by the National Trust for Scotland in 2008 found that although ptarmigan were seen on Goat Fell, on the Isle of Arran, there was no evidence of any breeding pairs. This compared unfavourably with 1981, when 28 birds were seen, together with chicks. This must, however, be balanced against the known cyclical nature of the ptarmigan population on Arran.
The NTS proposes further research in order to determine whether the apparent decline in ptarmigan numbers on Arran is the result of global warming or whether other factors are involved. It is also feared that there may be an impact on other populations. According to the NTS: ‘if predictions about climate change are correct, it is possible that the birds may disappear from Ben Lomond over the coming years’ (Sunday Herald, February 2009).
Sources
Arkive Online Wildlife Archive
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
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