ptarmigan

American  

[tahr-mi-guhn] / ˈtɑr mɪ gən /

noun

plural

ptarmigans,

plural

ptarmigan

1. any of several grouses of the genus Lagopus, of mountainous and cold northern regions, having feathered feet.

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ptarmigan British  

/ ˈtɑːmɪɡən /

noun

1. any of several arctic and subarctic grouse of the genus Lagopus, esp L. mutus, which has a white winter plumage

2. (sometimes capital) a created domestic fancy pigeon with ruffled or curled feathers on the wings and back

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Etymology

Origin of ptarmigan

1590–1600; pseudo-Greek spelling of Scots Gaelic tarmarchan, akin to Irish tarmanach

Example Sentences

Scotland is home to Arctic specialists - birds like dotterel, snow bunting and ptarmigan - which are found high on Scotland's mountains.

From BBC • Sep. 25, 2022

Sometimes the groups get lucky and spot a ptarmigan, or a long-tailed weasel in its white winter coat.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 30, 2022

Until the start of the 19th century, the ptarmigan could be found across a wide swathe of northern Britain, south to the Lake District; but today it survives only in the Highlands.

From The Guardian • Jan. 2, 2020

Seeing a reindeer nonchalantly munching on berries and grass and a ptarmigan comfortably nestled in a patch of crowberry bushes led me to think the fire was no longer an issue.

From Washington Post • Aug. 9, 2018

Tornait hopped to the floor, his feather coat bloom­ ing behind him like a courting ptarmigan.

From "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George