Chukar
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| Chukar | ||||||||||||||
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| Alectoris chukar (Gray, 1830) |
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Alectoris chukar chukar |
The Chukar, Alectoris chukar is a Eurasian upland gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. Other common names of this bird include 'Chukker' (sometimes misspelled as 'Chuker'), 'Chukar Partridge', 'Red-legged Partridge', 'Rock Partridge', 'Indian Hill Partridge', 'Chukka', 'Chukkar', 'Chukor', 'Chukore', 'Chikone', 'Kabk', 'Kau-Kau', and 'Keklik'.
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[edit] Distribution
This partridge has its native range in Asia from Pakistan and Kashmir, into the Republic of India (Himachal Pradesh and Punjab states). And Afghanistan in the east to southeastern Europe in the west, and is closely related and similar to its western equivalent, the Red-legged Partridge, Alectoris rufa. It has been introduced widely for game hunters, and became established in the United States Rocky Mountains, Canada, New Zealand and Hawaii. In Great Britain, hybrids between this species and the also introduced Red-legged Partridge are common.
Chukar prefer rocky, steep, and open hillsides. In the United States, Oregon, Nevada and Idaho lead all other states in terms of feral chukar populations and harvest. However, they can be found in almost all the western states in isolated populations.
[edit] Biology and behavior
The chukar is a resident breeder in dry, open, and often hilly country. In the wild, chukar travel in groups of 5 to 40 birds called coveys. It nests in a scantily lined ground scrape laying 8 to 20 eggs. Chukars will take a wide variety of seeds and some insects as food; however, Downy Brome (Cheatgrass) is this species' strong food preference. When in captivity, they will lay one egg per day throughout the breeding season if the eggs are collected daily.
Many knowlegable hunters consider chukar the most challenging of all the gamebirds. Its quick flight, steep habitat, and tendency to run make it a challenge suitable for only the most dedicated and physically fit bird hunters.
[edit] Appearance
The Chukar is a rotund 32-35 cm long bird, with a light brown back, grey breast, and buff belly. The face is white with a black gorget. It has rufous-streaked flanks and red legs. When disturbed, it prefers to run rather than fly, but if necessary it flies a short distance on rounded wings.
It is very similar to Rock Partridge, Alectoris graeca, but is browner on the back and has a yellowish tinge to the foreneck. The sharply defined gorget distinguishes this species from Red-legged Partridge. The song is a noisy chuck-chuck-chukar-chukar.
[edit] In culture
The Chukar is the National bird of Pakistan and the name is derived from Chakor in Sanskrit. In Indian mythology, the bird is said to be in love with the moon and to look at it constantly. Battle Mountain, NV holds an annual "Chukar Tournament & Feed" every November.
The Chukar is a popular pet for some peoples in the Middle-East, particularly among Iranians, Turks, and Kurds.
[edit] Population and conservation status
This species is relatively unaffected by hunting or loss of habitat due to its remote and physically demanding terrain preferences. Its numbers from year to year are most largely affected by weather patterns during the breeding season.
[edit] References
- ^ BirdLife International (2008). Alectoris chukar. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2008. Retrieved on 24 February 2009.
- Alectoris chukar (TSN 175908). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 24 February 2009.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Alectoris chukar |
[edit] External links
- BirdLife Species Factsheet
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology - Chukar
- USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter - Chukar
- South Dakota Birds and Birding - Chukar Information and Photos
- eNature.com - Chukar
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