Hiding in the Snow

                                                                                                                                                   Anthony Madden

In winter, Rock Ptarmigan are white with dark eyes, bill, lores (area between bill and eye), and tail feathers. Breeding males have scarlet patches (“combs”) above their eyes. They remain white into midsummer, then molt into brown plumage with dark barring and dark tail feathers. The wings and legs remain mostly white. Breeding females are camouflaged with intricate dark and pale brown mottling, with some white in legs and wings.  ---  All About Birds