Rock ptarmigan
Scientific Name: – Lagopus muta
The rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) is a medium-sized gamebird in the grouse family. It is known simply as the ptarmigan in the UK and in Canada, where it is the official bird for the territory of Nunavut, Canada, and the official game bird for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and colloquially as the snow chicken in the United States. In Japan it is known as the raichou , which means ‘thunder bird.’ It is the official bird of Toyama Prefecture and is a protected species nationwide.
The rock ptarmigan is 34?36 centimetres (13?14 in) long (tail 8 cm (3.1 in)) with a wing-span of 54?60 centimetres (21?24 in). It is slighter smaller than the willow ptarmigan by about 10%. The male’s “song” is a loud croaking.