Saturday, March 04, 2006

Ptarmigans at 10,500 feet


One advantage is more wildlife spotting!
A Ptarmigans winter camouflage makes it virtually impossible to see in a snowy landscape! But camouflage is not the only benefit to it's white winter plumage. These winter feathers aren't filled with color pigments, instead they are filled with air. This air space in the feathers provides a layer of protection from the alpine cold.

Factoid:
Ptarmigans can be distinguished from grouse in two ways; Ptarmigan have feathers on their feet while grouse don't, and the tail of ptarmigan is usually more narrow than that of a grouse.

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