👉 Lagopus is an extinct genus of birds in the family Passeridae, which includes many species that are part of the plover family. These birds were the most widely distributed passerines on land and were a major component of terrestrial ecosystems around the world. The term "lagopus" comes from Latin, referring to the Greek word "lagus," meaning "hairy." The specific name "lagopus" is derived from the Greek root "laga-" which means "hair"