adipose tissue. This can serve as an energy source for up to 10 days of starvation. The Svalbard subspecies inhabits the northern extent of the rock ptarmigans range. During winter, food availability is lower in Svalbard than in other parts of their range, which accounts for the necessary increased fat reserves not found in other sub populations. In culture Rock ptarmigan meat is a popular part of festive meals in Icelandic cuisine. Hunting of rock ptarmigans was banned in Iceland in 2003 and 2004 due to its declining population. Hunting has been allowed again since 2005, but is restricted to selected days, which are revised yearly and all trade of rock ptarmigan is illegal. In Thomas Bewick's A History of British Birds (1797) the species is named as "White Grouse" with alternatives "White Game, or Ptarmigan". The birds feed, records Bewick, "on the wild productions of the hills, which sometimes give the flesh a bitter, but not unpalatable taste: it is dark coloured, and has somewhat the flavour of the hare." Provincial bird The rock ptarmigan is the official territorial bird of Nunavut, Canada. Its Inuktitut name is ᐊᕐᑭᒡᒋᖅ ᐊᑕᔪᓕᒃ, aqiggiq atajulik. It is the official game bird of Newfoundland and Labrador. References External links Stamps: Rock Ptarmigan (worldwide); with world RangeMap Ptarmigan videos, photos & sounds on the Internet Bird Collection Ptarmigan RSPB Rock Ptarmigan-Lagopus muta photo gallery VIREO Montin (1776). Phys. Sälsk. Kandl. 1: 155. rock ptarmigan rock ptarmigan Holarctic birds rock ptarmigan rock ptarmigan Articles containing video clips Game birds