Rock Ptarmigan

Rock Ptarmigan

Lagopus muta

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
30–40% · Possible
overall probability at Vatnajokull National Park
683 Verified records at Vatnajokull National Park
May Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) is a medium-sized game bird in the grouse tribe. It is known simply as the ptarmigan in Europe. It is the official bird for the Canadian territory of Nunavut, where it is known as the aqiggiq (ᐊᕿᒡᒋᖅ), and the official game bird for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. In Japan, it is known as the raichō (雷鳥), which means "thunder bird"; it is the official bird of Gifu, Nagano, and Toyama Prefectures and is a protected species nationwide. Wikipedia →

30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Rock Ptarmigan sighting in Vatnajokull National Park, based on 683 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

📅 Monthly Probability

10–20
Jan
10–20
Feb
10–20
Mar
50–60
Apr
50–60
May
30–40
Jun
20–30
Jul
30–40
Aug
10–20
Sep
10–20
Oct
5–10
Nov
10–20
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 Vatnajokull National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
30–40%
2 Thingvellir National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
10–20%
3 Cairngorms National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
<5%
4 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
5 Denali National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
6 Triglav National Park 🇸🇮 Slovenia
<5%
7 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
8 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
<5%
9 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
10 Gates of the Arctic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
11 Nahanni National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
12 Kenai Fjords National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
13 Mercantour National Park 🇫🇷 France
Insufficient data
14 Cévennes National Park 🇫🇷 France
Insufficient data
15 Katmai National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
16 Kluane National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Rock Ptarmigan in Vatnajokull National Park?

About 31% of wildlife watchers report a Rock Ptarmigan sighting in Vatnajokull National Park, based on 683 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Rock Ptarmigan in Vatnajokull National Park?

May has the highest sighting rate for Rock Ptarmigan in Vatnajokull National Park in our monthly data.

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