The rock ptarmigan, designated as a special natural treasure, was believed to have gone extinct in the Central Japan Alps because there had been no reports of any sighting of the birds since 1969.

NAGANO--Five endangered rock ptarmigan chicks have been found dead in the Central Japan Alps in Nagano Prefecture despite the Environment Ministry's efforts to nurture them, after fleeing their nest.

In July, the Mount Rainier white-tailed ptarmigan was officially listed as ... They are frequently spotted in areas with mixed rock, snow and alpine plants. Their diet consists of twigs, leaves ...

Two of the three ptarmigan species, rock and willow, live mainly in the Arctic. The third, white-tailed, also lives as far ...

Lying on his front, his arm jammed into the snow for stability, Markus photographed the camouflaged rock ptarmigan as it peeked out of a reindeer hoofprint. Every winter Markus searches for these ...