willow ptarmigan; red grouse
A bird species (Lagopus lagopus) found in northern regions. In Japanese, often refers specifically to the subspecies in Sakhalin and Hokkaido.
The willow ptarmigan turns white in winter.
An ecological survey of willow ptarmigans was conducted in Hokkaido.
雷鳥 (rock ptarmigan) is a different species native to Japan's alpine regions, while カラフトライチョウ is the willow ptarmigan found in Sakhalin and Hokkaido.
Standard katakana spelling for this bird name.
Kanji spelling is rare; the word is usually written in kana.
From 樺太 (Karafuto, 'Sakhalin') + 雷鳥 (raichō, 'ptarmigan'). The kanji spelling reflects this origin, but the word is now usually written in katakana.