Ptarmigan Welfare and Alpine Climate Change

The ptarmigan is a mountain grouse confined to the high Scottish Cairngorms and is uniquely vulnerable to climate change because its montane habitat is literally running out of space as warming pushes vegetation zones upward.

Key Facts

Ptarmigan are confined to areas above 800m in Scotland, primarily in the Cairngorms
They undergo three moults annually to maintain camouflage: white in winter, brown-grey in summer
UK ptarmigan numbers are estimated at around 10,000 birds but are poorly monitored
Climate models predict ptarmigan could lose up to 80% of their suitable habitat by 2080
They are the only UK bird that is white in winter plumage, providing essential snow camouflage

Welfare Considerations

Ptarmigan welfare is threatened by climate warming that reduces snow cover duration and extent, removing the camouflage advantage of white winter plumage and increasing predation vulnerability. As vegetation climbs higher on Scottish mountains, the open stony ground and low alpine vegetation ptarmigan require shrinks in area. The isolated Scottish population lacks connectivity to continental populations, meaning local climate-driven extinction cannot be rescued by natural recolonisation.

What You Can Do

Support Cairngorms National Park conservation programs specifically addressing montane habitat
Advocate for ambitious climate action as the primary measure to protect ptarmigan
Contribute ptarmigan survey counts to Cairngorms Connect and BTO upland monitoring schemes
Back high-altitude habitat research to understand ptarmigan responses to warming winters
Limit disturbance on Scottish mountaintops especially during the April to July breeding season