Thanks for stopping by to read about the wildlife in and around Yellowknife. This week I have some ptarmigan photos to share with you. The cold weather has made it difficult to get out and find wildlife but these birds have been hanging about for a while. It is good to see them again as they were pretty scarce last year. Once in a while they will come to visit the areas under the bird feeders in my yard and it’s nice to watch them from the warmth and comfort of the house!
The birds in these photos are willow ptarmigan. The NWT has 3 species of ptarmigan, the willow ptarmigan being the most wide-spread. The white tailed ptarmigan can be found in the western part of the territory and the rock ptarmigan can be found year round in the northern parts of the territory and in the southern parts of the territory during the winter months.
Willow Ptarmigan are pretty interesting in spite of their reputation for being not too smart. Did you know that Willow Ptarmigan tend to play with one another when in groups? One bird often starts the play by extending and bobbing the head, then jumping around willy-nilly, flapping the wings alternately. Other birds join in, doing similar antics, which may sharpen motor skills or increase cohesion of the social group, as it does in some mammals. I’m not sure I have ever witnessed this behaviour but I will definitely be on the lookout for it now!
Another cool fact about Willow Ptarmigan is that it’s the only grouse in the world where the male regularly helps raise the young. Pairs remain together from the beginning of the breeding season until their chicks are independent, a period of up to 7 months. What great dads!
That’s all for this week. Thanks again for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit about these chubby birds from the grouse family. I look forward to seeing you again soon! As always, feel free to share with your friends.