CPW White-tailed Ptarmigan Shapefile Download

Updated December, 2025 OVERALL RANGE: The probable range of White-tailed Ptarmigan in Colorado as determined from the following criteria: Areas greater than 10,800 feet in elevation; Colorado GAP vegetation types Mixed Tundra, Meadow Tundra, Prostrate Shrub Tundra, Bare Ground Tundra, Exposed Rock, Shrub Dominated Wetland/Riparian, and Graminoid/Forb Dominated Wetland. WINTER RANGE: Area utilized in winter most frequently where drainage basins at or above treeline and stream courses below treeline from 2,591 to 3,810 meters elevation (8,500 to 12,500 feet) where food (willow) and roosting sites (soft snow) are readily available. Winter range is typically defined from late October thru mid-April. The CPW Special Report Number 38, Wintering Areas and Winter Ecology of White-tailed Ptarmigan in Colorado published in 1976 was used as the base data for development of the ptarmigan winter range dataset. This information was derived from Colorado Parks and Wildlife field personnel. Data was captured by digitizing through a SmartBoard Interactive Whiteboard using topographic maps and NAIP imagery at various scales (Cowardin, M., M. Flenner. March 2003. Maximizing Mapping Resources. GeoWorld 16(3):32-35). These data are updated on a four year rotation with one of the four Colorado Parks and Wildlife Regions updated each year. These data are not updated on a statewide level annually.