Two male Willow Ptarmigan birds in winter plumage. This beautiful bird, with the scientific name Lagopus Lagopus (which name consist of the Greek words “lagos = hare” and “pus = leg”, meaning the bird with the hare like legs ..?) is classifieds to the pheasant family. It is a sedentary species, dwelling and breeding in birch and other forests, in moorlands of northern Europe and in the tundra of Scandinavia, Siberia, Alaska and northern Canada.