Willow Ptarmigan, Denali National Park, Alaska #3423

The willow ptarmigan is Alaska’s state bird and one of my favorite birds. Instead of migrating south for the winter, ptarmigans stay in Alaska. This bird is well adapted to survive the Alaska winter. Its feet are covered in feathers for insulation and act like snowshoes, keeping the bird on top of the snow. This image taken in mid-September shows the ptarmigan morphing from its summer brown to its winter white. This image illustrates the month of September in my 2022 Alaska Calendar. Thank you for visiting and for the gift of your time. Enjoy – Camera: #Nikon #D850, Lens: # Nikkor 70-400mm, Digital Capture, Hand-Held, ©Mark Kelley