Chukar partridge: Difference between revisions
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* [http://www.sdakotabirds.com/species/chukar_info.htm South Dakota Birds and Birding - Chukar Information and Photos] |
* [http://www.sdakotabirds.com/species/chukar_info.htm South Dakota Birds and Birding - Chukar Information and Photos] |
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* [http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recnum=BD0163 eNature.com - Chukar] |
* [http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recnum=BD0163 eNature.com - Chukar] |
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* [http://www.imaginas.gr/gallery/image622.html Alectoris Chukar in Greece] |
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{{North American Game}} |
{{North American Game}} |
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Revision as of 19:57, 27 May 2010
| Chukar | |
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| Species: | A. chukar
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| Binomial name | |
| 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'), 'Indian Chukar', 'Chukar Partridge', 'Red-legged Partridge', 'Rock Partridge', 'Indian Hill Partridge', 'Chukka', 'Chukkar', 'Chukor', 'Chukore', 'Chikone', 'Kabk', 'Kau-Kau', and 'Keklik'.
Description
The Chukar is a rotund 32–35 cm (13–14 in) 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 the 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 the Red-legged Partridge. Their song is a noisy chuck-chuck-chukar-chukar.
Distribution and habitat
This partridge has its native range in Eurasia, from the Kashmir region,Baluchistan Pakistan, Afghanistan and northern Republic of India 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 (release of which was outlawed in the early Nineties for conservation reasons).
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.
Chukars are common in the south of the island of Rhodes in Greece, their habitat coming fairly close to the sea, within a kilometer in fact.
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 knowledgeable 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.
In culture
The Chukar is the National bird of Pakistan and national food of India, its name is derived from Chakor in Sanskrit. In Pakistani and Indian culture, as well as in Indian mythology, the Chukar sometimes symbolizes intense, and often unrequited, love.[2][3] It is said to be in love with the moon and to gaze at it constantly.[4] 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, and Kurds.
The Idaho Falls Chukars minor league baseball team is named for the bird.
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.
References
- ^ Template:IUCN2008
- ^ Richard Carnac Temple (1884), The legends of the Panjâb, Education Society's Press,
... "Priti chand chakor ... Our love is as the moon's and the partridge's" ... It is commonly said that the chakor, or Indian red-legged partridge, is violently in love with the moon ...
- ^ Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal v. 55, Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1881,
... When I beheld thy face mournful, lady, I wandered restlessly o'er the world, Thy face is like the moon, and my heart like the chakor ...
- ^ Edward Balfour (1871), Cyclopædia of India and of eastern and southern Asia, commercial, industrial and scientific: products of the mineral, vegetable and animal kingdoms, useful arts and manufactures, Scottish & Adelphi Presses,
... The birds are said by the natives to be enamoured of the moon and, at full moon, to eat fire ...
- "Alectoris chukar". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. 24 February.
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