ptarmigan

noun

ptar·​mi·​gan ˈtär-mi-gən How to pronounce ptarmigan (audio)
plural ptarmigan or ptarmigans
: any of various grouses (genus Lagopus) of northern regions with completely feathered feet

Illustration of ptarmigan

Illustration of ptarmigan
  • A summer plumage
  • B winter plumage

Examples of ptarmigan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The ptarmigan is just one bird species that changes color in the winter, shifting from brown to white to blend in with the snow. Sofia Quaglia, Discover Magazine, 6 Dec. 2023 Willow ptarmigan The willow ptarmigan is Alaska's state bird. Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 25 July 2023 This technique is commonly found among Arctic animals, including hares, foxes, lemmings and a bird called the ptarmigan. Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Mar. 2023 The white-tailed ptarmigan calls the Uinta mountains home. Matt Hardinge, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2020 Residing at 10,000 to 14,000 feet, chasing the white-tailed ptarmigan in California is not for the faint of heart. Matt Hardinge, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2020 Some birds, like the willow ptarmigan in Alaska, may have adapted to survive cold winters by having big guts instead of big brains. Geoffrey Giller, Discover Magazine, 11 Aug. 2020 However, the contaminants might impact the habitats of terrestrial birds like lapland longspurs, rosy finches and ptarmigan. Morgan Krakow, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Nov. 2021 The ptarmigan and rabbits whose furs turn white in October rest exposed against bare, snowless tundra. Richard Adams Carey, WSJ, 1 Oct. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ptarmigan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

modification of Scottish Gaelic tarmachan

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ptarmigan was in 1599

Dictionary Entries Near ptarmigan

Cite this Entry

“Ptarmigan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ptarmigan. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ptarmigan

noun
ptar·​mi·​gan ˈtär-mi-gən How to pronounce ptarmigan (audio)
plural ptarmigan or ptarmigans
: any of various grouses of northern regions with completely feathered feet

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