Does anyone else find it strange that the name for ptarmigans is derived from the name for rabbits?
You mean the genus,
Lagopus, which means "rabbit or hare feet".
Lagopus was given by scientists many years ago and thought it would be funny to refer to it as "rabbit foot". Ptarmigans have no connection with rabbits. Besides Lagopus is a derogatory slur against ptarmigans. Ptarmigan comes from the word
tarmachan, which means "croaker" or "mountaineer", a very fitting name.