The Rock Ptarmigan is primarily an Arctic species, but its range extends southward into much of alpine British Columbia, and the island of Newfoundland. Although population estimates are imprecise, approximately 3.4 million individuals are believed to be in Canada, which represents 43% of the global total and a moderate degree of responsibility for Canada. However, it is too rarely detected by either the Breeding Bird Survey or the Christmas Bird Count to allow for any estimation of population trend or establishment of a goal for the Canadian population.