Offshore marine observation of Willow Ptarmigan, including water landings, Kuskokwim Bay, Alaska.

Publication: Wilson Bulletin

Publication Date: 01-MAR-05

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ABSTRACT.--We report an observation of Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) encountered 8 to 17 km from the nearest shoreline on Kuskokwim Bay, Alaska, on 30 August 2003. The ptarmigan were observed flying, landing on our research vessel, and landing and taking off from the water surface. We also report on one other observation of ptarmigan sitting on the water surface and other marine observations of ptarmigan from the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database. These observations provide evidence that Willow Ptarmigan are capable of dispersing across large bodies of water and landing and taking off from the water surface. Received 19 July 2004, accepted 4 January 2005.

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Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) have a Holarctic distribution and are found throughout much of Alaska, typically occupying alpine and arctic tundra (Hannon et al. 1998). In contrast to the residential habits of most other grouse species (Gruys 1993, Hannon et al. 1998), Willow Ptarmigan are known to make seasonal migrations that may cover distances of several hundred kilometers. Although their wing morphology and muscle composition suggest that they are better adapted to longer migrations and sustained flight than other galliforms (Drovetski 1996), galliforms generally are considered to have limited ability for sustained flight (Tobalske et al. 2003). For Willow Ptarmigan, migration...

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