Animals of Niwot Ridge

White-Tailed Ptarmigan

Lagopus leucurus

Click on image to pull up an even larger image (not recommended if you have a slow Internet connection).

The ptarmigan is the only animal that lives above the snow in the alpine during the winter. It turns completely white in the winter so it blends into its surroundings, and in the summer it turns brown. It can sit so quietly and blend in so well that you won't see one until you are almost standing on it.

Back to the Animals of Niwot Ridge Field Trip Page.