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The Svalbard rock ptarmigan is the only land-inhabiting bird which resides in the archipelago throughout the year. It is a sub-species of the rock ptarmigan, and it is larger and heavier than either the rock ptarmigan or the willow ptarmigan on mainland Norway.
The Svalbard rock ptarmigan has low genetic diversity and appears to be isolated from other ptarmigan populations.
The Svalbard rock ptarmigan uses separate habitats in the winter compared to the breeding season. But, little is known about the location of the wintering areas or possible migration routes, though it is assumed that they seek relatively snow-free areas such as under bird-cliffs and other areas with rich vegetation.
