Alaska's State Bird (Willow Ptarmigan)

Alaska’s State Bird by Bob Armstrong and Marge Hermans from Southeast Alaska's Natural World 27 It might have been the ing a period when ptarmigan populations were low. robin, or the raven, or the snowy owl. But after 6,000 school children finished vot- Ptarmigan are also an important food ing in the mid-1950s, the willow ptarmigan source for other animals, particularly in win- was destined to bear the title of Alaska’s ter, when other foods are not available. In State Bird. Southeast Alaska, willow ptarmigan may be taken by hawks, falcons, and bald or golden The students’ choice was sent to the eagles. Eggs and young also are particularly Territorial Legislature and then to the Gov- vulnerable to wolves and ravens. ernor. Signing the “Act to name an official bird” on February 4, 1955, Territorial Gov- Ptarmigan do stay in Alaska year-round, ernor B. Frank Heintzleman wrote: and the remarkable adaptations they have developed for winter are well known among The Willow Ptarmigan has a number of Alaskans. Each fall, feather density increases qualities which recommend it for this signal all over their bodies, and they develop honor. It is found in all parts of Alaska “snowshoes”—dense feathers on the top and is widely known and easily recognized. and bottom of each foot—that help them It does not fly south in the fall as do most of move about in deep snow. The claws on the ducks, geese, swans and song birds, but their feet also elongate, effectively giving (Preceding page) spends its entire life in the Territory. them built-in “crampons” for walking on Willow buds, twigs, All three species of ptarmigan—the icy surfaces. Even in their digestive system leaves, and catkins are rock, the white-tailed, and the willow—are special bacteria develop to help them break a very large part of found in Southeast Alaska. In spring and down the woody twigs and buds they rely the willow ptarmigan’s summer, if you’re hiking in the alpine, rock on for food in winter. diet in all seasons. ptarmigan are the species you’ll most often Like good Alaskans, ptarmigan have also The spring catkins run into. White-tailed ptarmigan generally learned to hunker down and wait out winter this male is eating are stay on the highest peaks and ridges. weather. When temperatures drop they may particularly high in Willow ptarmigan frequent brushy protein. spend as much as 80 percent of their time areas, especially near treeline. They favor burrowed beneath the snow, where ambient moist areas with well-drained soil, where temperatures are generally higher and they low-growing willows provide fuzzy catkins, are protected from the wind. If the snow buds, leaves, and twigs for food depending becomes icy and this shelter is not available, on the season. many birds may die. In winter, all three species move to Willow ptarmigan have one other char- lower elevations, where the shrubs they acteristic that Governor Heintzleman may feed on may be more exposed. If you see a well have praised if he had known about it. ptarmigan at sea level in winter, it’s usually Unlike any other members of the grouse/ a willow. ptarmigan family, male willow ptarmigan are Ptarmigan are indeed widely known in extremely attentive parents. If the female is Alaska. They were long an important food killed after the eggs have hatched, the male source in virtually all our Native cultures, will raise the chicks to independence. and are taken now by sportsmen and subsis- Males stay with their mates throughout tence hunters alike. In 1954-57, the Alaska the nesting period. They protect the female Department of Fish and Game estimated from other males, and usually perch close by 50,000 ptarmigan a year were harvested by her, keeping watch for predators. If hikers hunters from 61 villages, and that was dur- or potential predators approach, the male 28 Dressing for the Season In spring and summer, female willow ptarmigan (above) are brownish with yellowish barring on their underparts—a coloration that helps camouflage them from predators once the snow has melted from their high elevation range. As in the title page photo for this article, male willow ptarmigan change from winter white to cryptic summer plumage more slowly than females do. In spring and early summer their handsome help signal their presence to any other males that reddish brown head, neck, and chest feathers might disrupt the family situation. contrast strikingly with the white winter plumage The red comb seen on the spring male can be on the rest of their bodies. inflated to attract females during breeding season. The more gradual change from winter plumage Note the “snowshoes” and “crampons” on the feet in males may benefit females and young birds by of the white-plumaged winter bird, above. making males more visible to predators, or it may will sound an alarm call (a kind of growling The school children of Alaska have shown to-BAK-a, to-BAK-a, to-BAK-a), then will fly a great interest in selecting an official bird. or run to lead the predators away. Both houses of the Legislature voted Some males are very protective. One unanimously in passing the present bill. summer we saw a male willow ptarmigan . For these compelling reasons, therefore, land on the back of a northern harrier I am today signing House Bill No. 2 of and successfully drive it away when it ap- the 22nd Alaska Legislature, and 90 proached an apparent nesting area. We have days from this date the Willow Ptarmigan also heard reports of willow ptarmigan at- will become the official bird of the Ter- tacking humans and even bears. ritory of Alaska and entitled to all the Certainly the winter wren, the snow prerogatives, pleasures and advantages of bunting, or the Steller’s jay would have had that designation. wonderful qualities to recommend them We do wonder, though, what those as one of Alaska’s official symbols. But as “prerogatives, pleasures and advantages” Governor Heintzleman wrote: might be from the willow ptarmigan’s per- spective! 29.

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