雷鸟属属

下属物种

本属包括以下物种：

柳雷鸟 Lagopus lagopus (Linnaeus, 1758)，也称作普通雷鸟，是本属的模式种

白尾雷鸟 Lagopus leucura (Richardson, 1831)

岩雷鸟 Lagopus muta (Montin, 1781)

Lagopus is a genus of birds in the family Phasianidae, commonly known as ptarmigan or grouse. The genus contains four living species with numerous described subspecies, all living in tundra or cold upland areas.

Taxonomy and etymology

The genus Lagopus was introduced by the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760 with the willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) as the type species. The genus name Lagopus is derived from Ancient Greek lagos (λαγος), meaning "hare, rabbit", + pous (πους), "foot", in reference to the feathered feet and toes typical of this cold-adapted group (such as in the snowshoe hare). The specific epithets muta and leucura were for a long time misspelt mutus and leucurus, in the erroneous belief that the ending of Lagopus denotes masculine gender. However, as the Ancient Greek term λαγωπους is of feminine gender, and the specific epithet has to agree with that, the feminine muta and leucura are correct.

The English name ptarmigan comes from the Scottish Gaelic name for L. muta, tarmachan (Scottish Gaelic pronunciation: ['t̪ʰaɾaməxan]), meaning “croaker”, which refers to the bird’s frog-like call. The p- was added due to a mistaken belief in a Greek origin, as if the word were related to the Greek word πτερόν (pterón), 'wing'.

Description

The four species are all specialists of cold regions, mostly sedentary, though with extensive winter movements at higher latitudes. Willow ptarmigan is a circumpolar boreal forest species, white-tailed ptarmigan is a North American alpine bird, and rock ptarmigan breeds in both Arctic and mountain habitats across Eurasia and North America. The rock ptarmigan is one of the relatively few birds that has successfully adapted to live in Iceland all year round. With the exception of the red grouse (until recently considered a subspecies of willow ptarmigan), all have a white winter plumage that helps them blend into the snowy background; even their remiges are white.

These are hardy, largely vegetarian birds, but insects are also taken by the developing young. In all species except for the willow ptarmigan, the female takes all responsibility for nesting and caring for the chicks, as is typical with gamebirds.

Species

Fossil record

• Two prehistoric species and two paleosubspecies are only known from fossils:
• Lagopus atavus Jánossy, 1974 (Early Pliocene of Bulgaria? - Late Pliocene)
• Lagopus balcanicus Boev, 1995 (Late Pliocene of Varshets, Bulgaria)
• Lagopus lagopus noaillensis Mourer-Chauviré, 1975 (Pleistocene of W Europe)
• Lagopus muta correzensis Mourer-Chauviré, 1975 (Pleistocene of W Europe)