So the species for the the first and second week of January is....Lagopus muta, the ptarmigan and Lepus timidus, the mountain hare.
Lagopus muta, the ptarmigan, summer plumage - Northern Highlands, Scotland |
Lagopus muta, the ptarmigan, summer plumage - Northern Highlands, Scotland |
Lagopus muta, the ptarmigan, winter plumage - Cairngorm, Scotland |
Lagopus muta, the ptarmigan, winter plumage - Cairngorm, Scotland |
The other species that changes it's coat colour in winter is the Lepus timidus, the mountain hare. I don't have any pictures of a mountain hare in summer but they basically have a brown coat.
Lepus timidus, the mountain hare, winter plumage - Cairngorm, Scotland |
Lepus timidus, the mountain hare, winter plumage - Cairngorm, Scotland |
Lepus timidus, the mountain hare, winter plumage - Cairngorm, Scotland |
In winter the coat of the hare changes with the change in temperature, making them vulnerable if the snow cover does disappear. What is very noticeable on this mountain hare is the black ear tips.
So there you have 2 amazing examples of how animals adapt to the changing seasons in terms of survival.
Sources of info:
http://www.welcometoscotland.com/about-scotland/wildlife-around-scotland/northern-birds-scotland/ptarmigan (Accessed 10 January 2015)
http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/p/ptarmigan/index.aspx (Accessed 10 January 2015)
http://www.mammal.org.uk/sites/default/files/factsheets/mountain_hare_complete.pdf (Accessed 10 January 2015)
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