Willow ptarmigan by the fact that it is not generally found above the tree line while the rock ptarmigan prefers more elevated, barren habitat. The summer plumage is browner and in the winter, the male willow ptarmigan lacks the rock ptarmigan's black stripe between the eyes and bill. The white-tailed ptarmigan ("Lagopus leucura") in North America is smaller, has a white tail and finely-barred greyer plumage and lives permanently above the tree line. The distinctive British Isles subspecies "L. l. scoticus" (red grouse) was once considered a separate true British species but is now classified as a sub-species. This moorland bird is
Winter Mountain 2011. In 2015, after releasing one album together, Smyth left Winter Mountain and Francis opted to keep the name for his solo work. In summer of 2016 Francis performed one of his first solo shows as Winter Mountain, opening for Seal. Later that same week, a solo Winter Mountain opened for The Feeling and the lead singer of Elbow, Guy Garvey. Winter Mountain released the self-produced 'I Swear I Flew' on his 'Astral Fox Records' label in November 2016. A song from the record, 'The Lucky Ones', received radio play across the UK and Europe from multiple stations including BBC