Chukar

The Chukar partridge has a light brown back, grey breast, and a buff belly. The shades vary across the various populations. The face is white with a black gorget. It has rufous-streaked flanks, red legs, and a coral-red bill. Sexes look similar but the female is slightly smaller in size and lacks the spur.

General Information:

Common Name:Chukar
Scientific Name:Alectoris Chukar
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order:Galliformes
Family:Phasianidae

Description

Distribution

The native range of these birds in Asia includes Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, along the inner ranges of the western Himalayas to Nepal. They also barely range into Africa on the Sinai Peninsula.

Habitat

Chukars inhabit rocky open hillsides with grass or scattered scrub or cultivated areas.

Mating Habits

Chukars are monogamous breeders and typically form pairs in summer. The female lays about 7 to 14 eggs which hatch in about 23-25 days. The chicks are precocial (well-developed) and can leave the nest soon after hatching. They join their parents in foraging and later join the chicks of other members of the covey. Fledging usually occurs within 2 weeks after birth.

Diet

Chukars are mainly herbivores (granivores) eating a wide variety of seeds. They will also take leaves, buds, flowers, berries, and some insects.

Threats

Chukars are not considered endangered at present; however, wild populations are vulnerable to harsh winters, pesticides, and hunting, and in some areas, they suffer from habitat degradation.

IUCN Status

Least Concern