Willow ptarmigan seeds and berries during the summer and largely subsisting on the buds and twigs of willow and other dwarf shrubs and trees during the winter. The willow ptarmigan is a medium to large ground-dwelling bird and is the most numerous of the three species of ptarmigan. Males and females are about the same size, the adult length varying between with a wingspan ranging from . The weight is . It is deep-chested and has a fairly long neck, a broad bill, short feathered legs and a moderately short rounded tail. In the summer, the male's plumage is marbled brown, with
Winter Mountain he began the process of recording the new songs at Cube Studios. During the recording process Francis set up his own 'Astral Fox Records' and began planning the self-release of the album. 'I Swear I Flew' was released to critical acclaim in November 2016. Winter Mountain has supported Seal, Ben Ottewell of Gomez, Guy Garvey of Elbow, The Feeling, Ocean Colour Scene, Leann Rhimes, Cara Dillon, Benny Gallagher, Seth Lakeman, Fleet Foxes, Paolo Nutini, Sara and Sean Watkins (formerly of Nickel Creek), Rosanne Cash, Richard Thompson, Grammy award winner Patty Griffin and others. Winter Mountain Winter Mountain is the stage