Thanks for the info on ptarmigan molt, Jack. I based my comment on only 2
data points--small flocks of ptarmigan that I saw on Mt. Baker in mid
September (no white feathers) and mid October (birds about half white). I
suspect this comes close to describing the situation for Washington
populations, but there will be variation. I looked at the BNA account, and
I'm puzzled why they called the white "winter" plumage Supplemental 1
rather than Definitive Basic--but they did.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone 206-756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax 206-756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416