White-tailed ptarmigan The species name "leucura" was for a long time misspelt "leucurus", in the erroneous belief that the ending of "Lagopus" denotes masculine gender. However, as the Ancient Greek term "λαγωπους" is of feminine gender, and the species name has to agree with that, the feminine "leucura" is correct. The species name "leucura" is derived from the Latinized version of the Greek "leukos", meaning "white" and "oura", meaning "tail", in reference to the bird's permanently white tail. The white-tailed ptarmigan is the smallest of the ptarmigans and the smallest bird in the grouse family. It is a stocky bird with rounded
USS Ptarmigan (AM-376) USS Ptarmigan (AM-376) USS "Ptarmigan" (AM-376) was an acquired by the United States Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing. She was the only U.S. Navy ship named for the ptarmigan, a grouse with feathered feet, found in northern regions. "Ptarmigan" was laid down 9 March 1944 by Savannah Machine and Foundry Co., Savannah, Georgia; launched 15 July 1944, sponsored by Miss Jeanne Summerlin; and commissioned 15 January 1945, Lt. Alexander B. Barrett in command. "Ptarmigan" departed for the Pacific Ocean 1 May 1945. Following duty off Hawaii