Lagopus term is of feminine gender, and the specific epithet has to agree with that, the feminine "muta" and "leucura" are correct. The English name "ptarmigan" comes from the Scottish Gaelic name for the bird, , whose origin is unknown. The p- was added due to a mistaken belief in a Greek origin, as if the word were related to the Greek word ("pterón"), 'wing'. The three species are all sedentary specialists of cold regions. Willow ptarmigan is a circumpolar boreal forest species, white-tailed ptarmigan is a North American alpine bird, and rock ptarmigan breeds in both Arctic and mountain habitats
Winter Mountain and shortly afterwards, signed to Dillon and Lakemans fledgling label 'Charcoal Records'. Their debut album 'Winter Mountain', produced by Sam Lakeman and recorded at multiple vintage studios throughout the UK including Rockfields and State of the ark, was released in 2013 to much acclaim. Soon after the release Winter Mountain signed to Faber Music Publishing. Smyth left Winter Mountain in 2015. In the year that followed Francis travelled Ireland, The UK and France. Whilst on the road he wrote and demoed the songs that were to form Winter Mountains second album 'I Swear I Flew'. Upon his return to Cornwall