gray wolf vs Willow Ptarmigan / Red Grouse

Canis lupus compared with Lagopus lagopus

Key Differences

• gray wolf is Critically Endangered while Willow Ptarmigan / Red Grouse is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	gray wolf	Willow Ptarmigan / Red Grouse
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Carnivora (Carnivorans)	Galliformes (Galliformes)
Family	Canidae (Dogs & Wolves)	Phasianidae
Genus	Canis (Dogs & Wolves)	Lagopus
Species	Canis lupus	Lagopus lagopus

Evolutionary Relationship

gray wolf and Willow Ptarmigan / Red Grouse share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

gray wolf

CR — Critically Endangered

Population: ~300.0K

Trend: Stable →

Willow Ptarmigan / Red Grouse

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	gray wolf	Willow Ptarmigan / Red Grouse
Diet	Carnivore	—
Average Lifespan	13 years	—
Average Length	1.6 m	—
Average Weight	45.0 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

gray wolf

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, deserts and xeric shrublands, and tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, among 13 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Seychelles), Asia (Japan), Europe (5 countries), North America (7 countries), Oceania and the Pacific (Marshall Islands, Vanuatu), and South America (5 countries). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Willow Ptarmigan / Red Grouse

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, France, Norway, Sweden, and United States. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

gray wolf

The most widely distributed wild canid, gray wolves range from North America across Eurasia in diverse habitats including tundra, forests, and grasslands. Highly social animals living in family packs led by a dominant breeding pair. As keystone predators, wolves regulate prey populations and profoundly shape ecosystem structure, as demonstrated by their reintroduction in Yellowstone. Once heavily persecuted, populations are recovering in many regions.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇺🇸 United States