What does the Willow Ptarmigan eat?

The Willow Ptarmigan's diet shapes where and when you'll find it. Understanding what it eats helps you predict where to look.

Diet overview

Herbivore

How it forages

Primarily herbivorous, feeding on buds, catkins, twigs, leaves, flowers, and berries of willow, dwarf birch, crowberry, and other tundra plants. Chicks may consume some insects initially. Forages by walking and pecking, often digging through snow in winter.

When it feeds

Diurnal, most active during early morning and late afternoon, especially during the breeding season. In winter, foraging activity may be concentrated around midday.

Explore the Willow Ptarmigan