The Rock Ptarmigan

This species, gifted with mimicry, is able to transform its plumage between summer and winter seasons in order to visually become part of its environment.
Its name, which means "hare's foot", refers to its foot digits covered by the fuzz in winter!
It is one of the most endangered bird species in the Alps.
Every year the nature reserves of Haute-Savoie carry out population monitoring in order to study their evolution. The results are shared with the "Observatoire des Galliformes de Montagne".