The
rock ptarmigan () is a medium-sized
gamebird in the
grouse family. It is known simply as the
ptarmigan in the UK and in Canada, where it is the official bird for the territory of
Nunavut,
Canada, and the official game bird for the province of
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and colloquially as the
snow chicken in the
United States. In Japan it is known as the
raichō (雷鳥), which means "thunder bird". It is the official bird of
Toyama Prefecture and is a protected species nationwide.