Rock Ptarmigan

The rock ptarmigan is a medium-sized game bird of the grouse tribe, 34–36 centimetres long with an 8-centimetre tail, a wingspan of 54–60 centimetres and a weight of 440–640 grams, about ten percent smaller than the willow ptarmigan. It is camouflaged to match the seasons, moulting from white in winter to grey and brown in spring or summer. The breeding male has greyish upperparts with white wings and underparts; in winter the plumage becomes completely white except for the black outer tail feathers and eye line. (Wikipedia, general species account)

Known simply as the ptarmigan in Europe, it is the official bird of the Canadian territory of Nunavut and the official game bird of Newfoundland and Labrador. In Japan it is called the raichō, meaning thunder bird, and is the official bird of Gifu, Nagano and Toyama Prefectures and a nationally protected species. (Wikipedia, general species account)