During springtime, the arctic tundra provides favorable conditions for many birds to live comfortably. Two of these birds are the Willow Ptarmigan and the Savannah Sparrow.

Question

The Willow Ptarmigan is a medium to large chicken-like bird, with a thick body covered in many layers of feathers. In the summer it is a rusty brown color, but the feathers turn completely white in winter. The Savannah Sparrow is a small bird with a thin layer of feathers. Throughout the year it has dark-streaked feathers all over its tan body. Before winter arrives, the Savannah Sparrow flies south to areas such as the deciduous forests of Mexico, and will remain there until the next spring when it will fly back to the tundra. The Willow Ptarmigan remains in the tundra all year.
What adaptations aid the survival of the Willow Ptarmigan during the winter?
The rusty brown color of the Willow Ptarmigan in the winter allows it to hide in trees.
The Savannah Sparrow migrates to warmer climates to avoid predators in the tundra.
The thick body of the Willow Ptarmigan allows it to avoid being eaten.
The white feathers of the Willow Ptarmigan allow for camouflage.

Answer 1

The thick layers of feathers on the Willow Ptarmigan's body provide insulation to keep it warm in the cold winter temperatures. Additionally, the change in color of its feathers from rusty brown to completely white allows for effective camouflage in the snow-covered terrain, helping it avoid predators.