Willow Ptarmigan
(Lagopus lagopus)

Accepted:

May 1990 Brooks, Waldo Co. 1990-002 (Applegate 1996; specimen MSM)

16 May - 3 Jun 2000 Great Chebeague Island, Cumberland, Co. 2000-001 (NAB v54 n3; photos)

Unaccepted:

None

Not yet reviewed (pending historical records and unsubmitted reports):

before 1834 Maine (anecdotal account by Audubon**) 1834-xxx (Audubon 1834: 528)

23 Apr 1892 Kenduskeag, Penobscot, Co. 1892-xxx (Auk 9: 300)

19 May 1951 Grand Lake Rd at Seboeis River (T6 R7), Penobscot Co. 1951-xxx (Bull. MAS 7: 79-80)

6 Dec 1954 Freeport, Cumberland Co. 1954-xxx (Applegate 1996; needs documentation)

14 May 1977 Bailey Island, Harpswell, Cumberland Co. 1977-002 (Am. Birds 31(5): 974)

Apr 1988 Petit Manan NWR, Washington Co. 1988-xxx (Widrig 1989; needs documentation)

References:

Applegate, Roger D. 1996. Extralimital occurrences of Willow Ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus, in Maine. The Canadian Field-Naturalist 110: 715.

Audubon, John J. 1834. Ornithological biography: or an account of the habits of the birds of the United States of America. Volume 2. Edinburgh: A. and C. Black.

Dolley, Ralph G. 1951. Canadian Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus albus) in Maine. Bulletin of the Maine Audubon Society 7: 79-80.

Merrill, Harry. 1892. Lagopus lagopus in Maine. Auk 9: 300.

Ornithologist and Oologist 17(5): 79 (note on taxidermy of Kenduskeag bird)

Widrig, R. S. 1989. The birds and plants of Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge. Privately published by R. S. Widrig, Milbridge, Maine.

Notes:

Willow Ptarmigan occurred in the thousands some winters south to Quebec City, Quebec, during the 1600s and were regular south to Montreal into the 1800s (Macoun and Macoun 1909, Catalogue of Canadian Birds, 2nd ed.; Pittaway and Irons). These localities are not too distant from Maine, and the species's status may have changed from the time of Audubon. Recent authors have doubted the accuracy of Audubon's account. Audubon did note, however, that the described habitat where the ptarmigan were found in Maine resembled what he knew of the bird from Labrador and Newfoundland. Moreover, the hunter assured Audubon's correspondent that the area to find Spruce Grouse was different from where to find ptarmigan. The committee has yet to review this historical account.

Willow Ptarmigan at Bailey Island 14 May 1977

Photo by Jan Pierson

(click to see larger image)