Rock Ptarmigan (Japanese subspecies)
Lagopus muta japonica
Photo: Daisuke Tashiro / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons
The Rock Ptarmigan of the Japanese Alps is a bird of the high mountains of central Honshu, regarded as a relic of the Ice Age. Its plumage changes with the seasons, brown in summer and pure white in winter. It lives in dwarf pine zones and alpine plant communities in a few mountain ranges, and is a Special Natural Monument.
- Scientific name
- Lagopus muta japonica
- Group
- Birds
- Prefectures
- Niigata, Toyama, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka
- Japanese Red List (Ministry of the Environment)
- EndangeredMinistry of the Environment 5th Red List (2026)
- 日本語
- ライチョウ
- 简体中文
- 岩雷鸟（日本亚种）
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Sign inNatural Monuments related to the Rock Ptarmigan (Japanese subspecies)
Where to see the Rock Ptarmigan (Japanese subspecies)
Facilities whose official websites show this animal on display. Exhibits can change, so check each facility's latest information before you go.
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Designated as a species without a fixed area. Markers show related prefectures.
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Frequently asked questions
The Rock Ptarmigan (Japanese subspecies) is designated as a species without a fixed area and lives in places such as Niigata, Toyama, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka.
You can see the Rock Ptarmigan (Japanese subspecies) at Ishikawa Zoo, Nasu Animal Kingdom, Toyama Municipal Family Park, Ueno Zoological Gardens, among others (confirmed on each facility's official website on 2026-10-15).
The Rock Ptarmigan (Japanese subspecies) is listed as "Endangered" in the Ministry of the Environment 5th Red List (2026) (listed as ライチョウ).
Animals related to the Rock Ptarmigan (Japanese subspecies)
Animals in the same group or designated in the same area.
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