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

As the climate warms, animals like ptarmigan could be forced higher and higher up in elevation, and their islands of habitat will become smaller and farther apart, Schroeder said.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 23, 2023

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

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

On a recent afternoon, he netted seven ptarmigan and hung the birds outside his front door, their bodies displaying white winter coats.

From Washington Post • Dec. 12, 2019

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