Good evening, everyone! Today, I’ll talk about a mysterious bird that inhabits the high mountains of Japan, the Ptarmigan.
The Ptarmigan is a precious bird that carries the legacy of the Ice Age. While it is widely distributed in the northern hemisphere, the Japanese Ptarmigan is located at the southernmost point of this range. Its current habitat includes high and cool places like the Neck City mountain massif, the Northern Alps, Mount Norikura, Mount Ontake, and the Southern Alps. It is a very special existence and is designated as a national special natural monument in Japan.
The Ptarmigan, with a body length of 37 cm, has relatively large feet compared to its body. In summer, it has brown feathers, which turn pure white in winter. This change is a clever strategy to adapt to the seasonal life. Especially, the white feathers in winter serve as camouflage, blending into the snow for protection.
The feathers are very unique; their structure traps air to prevent the loss of body heat. The feet are also covered with fluffy feathers, resembling small snow boots in nature. It’s very fluffy. Such ingenuity is necessary for living in the cold high mountains.
Its diet is also interesting. It mainly eats buds and seeds of alpine plants, and in winter, it feeds on the buds of Betula ermanii. To digest the plant fibers, it relies on intestinal bacteria.
The Ptarmigan has been deeply involved in Japanese culture for a long time. In the Edo period, it was worshipped as a protector against fire and thunder disasters. However, its origin remains a mystery. In literature, the first record is a poem composed by Emperor Go-Shirakawa in the 1200 work “Fuboku Wakashū.”
The next time you climb a high mountain, you might encounter a Ptarmigan. When that happens, please watch this precious bird, a survivor from the Ice Age, with kind eyes. While feeling the breath of the Ice Age, let’s enjoy a special moment with the Ptarmigan.
