Illustration of ptarmigan
- A summer plumage
- B winter plumage
ptarmigan
noun
ptar·mi·gan
ˈtär-mi-gən 
plural ptarmigan or ptarmigans
: any of various grouses (genus Lagopus) of northern regions with completely feathered feet
Examples of ptarmigan in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Among the animals were polar bears, walruses, bowhead whales, Atlantic puffins, common eiders, rock ptarmigans, and Atlantic cod.
—
Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2025
Beyond these birds, Denali National Park also provides ample opportunity to spot one particularly famous species: the willow ptarmigan.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
Travelers can go snowshoeing, marvel at frozen waterfalls, go sledding, cross-country skiing, and look for wildlife like the snowshoe hare, white-tailed ptarmigan, coyote, elk, and mule deer.
—Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2024
But as temperatures rise, the treeline is creeping upward—and shrinking the ptarmigan’s already small habitat in the process.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2024
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Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2025
Beyond these birds, Denali National Park also provides ample opportunity to spot one particularly famous species: the willow ptarmigan.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
Travelers can go snowshoeing, marvel at frozen waterfalls, go sledding, cross-country skiing, and look for wildlife like the snowshoe hare, white-tailed ptarmigan, coyote, elk, and mule deer.
—Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2024
But as temperatures rise, the treeline is creeping upward—and shrinking the ptarmigan’s already small habitat in the process.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for ptarmigan
Cite this Entry
“Ptarmigan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ptarmigan. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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ptarmigan
noun
ptar·mi·gan
ˈtär-mi-gən
plural ptarmigan or ptarmigans
: any of various grouses of northern regions with completely feathered feet
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