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Distinguishing birds

<strong>Q) During a skiing holiday in Finland last winter I saw a number of completely white grouse and I assumed they were ptarmigan. However, a Finnish friend told me that they were willow grouse. Is there an easy way to tell the two species apart? B. MORRIS By email</strong>

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A)In all-white plumage the two birds, ptarmigan and willow grouse, look very much the same as the plumage is identical. The best clue, though, is to examine the head, for the ptarmigan has a more delicate beak than the willow grouse. The cock also has black lores (the area between the beak and the eye), which the willow grouse lacks.