Illustration of ptarmigan
- A summer plumage
- B winter plumage
ptarmigan
noun
ptar·mi·gan
ˈtär-mi-gən 
plural ptarmigan or ptarmigans
: any of various grouses (genus Lagopus) of northern regions with completely feathered feet
Examples of ptarmigan in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Beyond these birds, Denali National Park also provides ample opportunity to spot one particularly famous species: the willow ptarmigan.
—
Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
Travelers can go snowshoeing, marvel at frozen waterfalls, go sledding, cross-country skiing, and look for wildlife like the snowshoe hare, white-tailed ptarmigan, coyote, elk, and mule deer.
—Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2024
But as temperatures rise, the treeline is creeping upward—and shrinking the ptarmigan’s already small habitat in the process.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2024
Pale white willow ptarmigans flap through a frozen alpine landscape, seemingly invisible against the snow.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 June 2024
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Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
Travelers can go snowshoeing, marvel at frozen waterfalls, go sledding, cross-country skiing, and look for wildlife like the snowshoe hare, white-tailed ptarmigan, coyote, elk, and mule deer.
—Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2024
But as temperatures rise, the treeline is creeping upward—and shrinking the ptarmigan’s already small habitat in the process.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2024
Pale white willow ptarmigans flap through a frozen alpine landscape, seemingly invisible against the snow.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for ptarmigan
Cite this Entry
“Ptarmigan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ptarmigan. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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ptarmigan
noun
ptar·mi·gan
ˈtär-mi-gən
plural ptarmigan or ptarmigans
: any of various grouses of northern regions with completely feathered feet
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