When one thinks of birds in Alaska the first bird that comes to mind is the majestic bald eagle.  Soaring over sitka spruce and open water in search of fish to spear with razor sharp talons, the bald eagle does seem like a good candidate for this rugged state's bird.  The state bird is actually of much smaller stature and as far from a raptor as possible.  It is the chicken-like Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus).

The Willow Ptarmigan or Willow Grouse is a medium sized gamebird in the grouse family.  It is a sedentary species that lives in the tundra and birch stands across northern Eurasia and northern Cananda and Alaska.  The male Willow Ptarmigan is special when it comes to rearing their young.  In all other species of grouse only the female takes care of the young but the male Willow Ptarmigan will often take responsibility for the young and staunchly defend them against all intruders.  They have been documented attacking grizzly bears and even humans who distract and disrupt their young!

Here are some pics of a few that I discovered while on a hike in Denali National Park.  The park seems to be swarmng with the chicken-like birds and they are always a welcome sight here in Alaska.

• 20/07/2008 23:36 - Of Cranes and Eagles
• 21/06/2008 06:05 - Birding in the Great White North
• 30/05/2008 15:07 - Spectacled Eider