Willow Grouse
Willow GrouseWillow GrouseWillow GrouseWillow Grouse

Willow Grouse

Lagopus lagopus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
20–30% · Possible
overall probability at Gates of the Arctic National Park
18 Verified records at Gates of the Arctic National Park
August Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The willow ptarmigan ( TAR-mi-gən; Lagopus lagopus) is a bird in the grouse tribe Tetraonini of the pheasant family Phasianidae. It is also known as the willow grouse. The willow ptarmigan breeds in birch and other forests and moorlands in northern Europe, the tundra of Scandinavia, Siberia, Alaska, and Canada, in particular in the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec. It is the state bird of Alaska. In the summer, the birds are largely brown, with dappled plumage, while in the winter, they are white with some black feathers in their tails. The species has remained little changed from the bird that roamed the tundra during the Pleistocene. Wikipedia →

20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Willow Grouse sighting in Gates of the Arctic National Park, based on 18 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Gates of the Arctic National Park

Rock Ptarmigan
LC Endemic

Rock Ptarmigan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lagopus muta

Insufficient data
American Spruce Grouse
LC

American Spruce Grouse

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Canachites canadensis

Insufficient data
Sharp-tailed Grouse
LC Endemic

Sharp-tailed Grouse

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tympanuchus phasianellus

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

20–30
Jan
20–30
Feb
20–30
Mar
20–30
Apr
10–20
May
10–20
Jun
20–30
Jul
40–50
Aug
20–30
Sep
20–30
Oct
20–30
Nov
20–30
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Denali National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
2 Gates of the Arctic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
3 Cairngorms National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
10–20%
4 Nahanni National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
10–20%
5 Katmai National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
6 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
7 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
8 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
9 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
10 Wood Buffalo National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
11 Kluane National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
12 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Insufficient data
13 Kenai Fjords National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
14 Jasper National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Willow Grouse in Gates of the Arctic National Park?

About 26% of wildlife watchers report a Willow Grouse sighting in Gates of the Arctic National Park, based on 18 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Willow Grouse in Gates of the Arctic National Park?

August has the highest sighting rate for Willow Grouse in Gates of the Arctic National Park in our monthly data.

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