Chukar/Rock Partridge (2 Viewers)

[AusJen]

Hi Everyone I'm new to the forum having recently returned to live in the UK from Australia and would like some help identifying a bird we saw today on a walk to Hannington via the Manydown Estate at Basingstoke, Hampshire. We had a really good look at the bird which sat on a fence post - didn't attempt to fly away and was untroubled by our standing within a couple of feet of it. The bird looked identical to a Chukar or Rock Partridge...would this be possible in this area? Is it likely to have been an escapee from an aviary?
Thanks for your help.

 

[Keith Dickinson]

Hi there Aus Jen,
The bird you saw may just have been a red-legged partridge but there are a few establishments in the UK who import Chukars to breed and shoot so that one cannot be ruled out completely.
But have a great time on the forum and welcome....possibly beter put if i had welcomed you first but hey it's Bank Holiday

 

[AusJen]

Chukar/Rock Partridge/Red-Legged Partridge

Hi there Aus Jen,
The bird you saw may just have been a red-legged partridge but there are a few establishments in the UK who import Chukars to breed and shoot so that one cannot be ruled out completely.
But have a great time on the forum and welcome....possibly beter put if i had welcomed you first but hey it's Bank Holiday

Thanks for the quick response and the welcome Keith. I considered the Red-Legged Partridge but the bird we saw didn't seem to have the speckled black beneath the black neck band. Do you know if an older juvenile (if there is such a thing) would have the speckled black?

 

[Keith Dickinson]

problem you have in the UK is that too many people do import Chukars...they don't keep them in close captivity so many escape and interbreed with the local red legs....so really we should say that in the UK we have red-leg/chukar hybrids.
Therfore the birds you saw could be either, but don't worry too much, mark 'em down as red legs and then when you get an absolutely def. chukar you can mark that one down

 

[AusJen]

problem you have in the UK is that too many people do import Chukars...they don't keep them in close captivity so many escape and interbreed with the local red legs....so really we should say that in the UK we have red-leg/chukar hybrids.
Therfore the birds you saw could be either, but don't worry too much, mark 'em down as red legs and then when you get an absolutely def. chukar you can mark that one down

Thanks Keith. (o)<

 

[screaming piha]

There used to be lots of Chukars released, but it has been illegal to do so since 1993. That does not mean it never happens, nor does it mean that there are no surviving Chukars/Chukar genes out there.

 

[AusJen]

There used to be lots of Chukars released, but it has been illegal to do so since 1993. That does not mean it never happens, nor does it mean that there are no surviving Chukars/Chukar genes out there.

I'm just kicking myself for not taking a photo - I had my new mobile with me which has a built in camera but it never even crossed my mind! I was so interested in watching the bird.

 

[Vinch]

Hello,

Look at this image !

Maybe you would find your partridge...
First ones: two subspecies of Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar), with young.
Second ones: Rock Partrige (Alectoris graeca)
Third ones: Red-Legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa)
Fourth: two subspecies of Barbary Partridge (Alectoris barbara)


All alectoris species are introduced in United Kingdom.

The only natural partridge species is Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix)

 

[Touty]

problem you have in the UK is that too many people do import Chukars...they don't keep them in close captivity so many escape and interbreed with the local red legs....so really we should say that in the UK we have red-leg/chukar hybrids.
Therfore the birds you saw could be either, but don't worry too much, mark 'em down as red legs and then when you get an absolutely def. chukar you can mark that one down

It's been illegal to release Chukars (or more commonly Chukar x Redleg hybrids) for several years now:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/ENVIRONMENT/gm/nonnav/06.htm

Game Conservancy studies of Alectoris partridge flank feathers showed that Chukar genetic pollution of UK red-legs declined rapidly after it became illegal to release either the hybrids or pure Chukar (around 1990 IIRR). The main problem was that while the initial (F1) crosson the game farms was very productive, producing lots of vigorous young they in their turn (the F2 generation) produced very few young indeed whether paired with other hybrids or pure red-legs. Ideal for game rearers but a disaster for wild red-leg populations, of which the UK's is now of international importance.

 

[AusJen]

Hello,

Look at this image !

Maybe you would find your partridge...
First ones: two subspecies of Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar), with young.
Second ones: Rock Partrige (Alectoris graeca)
Third ones: Red-Legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa)
Fourth: two subspecies of Barbary Partridge (Alectoris barbara)


All alectoris species are introduced in United Kingdom.

The only natural partridge species is Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix)

Thanks Vince - still looks like a Chukar to me but I could easily be wrong

 

[AusJen]

It's been illegal to release Chukars (or more commonly Chukar x Redleg hybrids) for several years now:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/ENVIRONMENT/gm/nonnav/06.htm

Game Conservancy studies of Alectoris partridge flank feathers showed that Chukar genetic pollution of UK red-legs declined rapidly after it became illegal to release either the hybrids or pure Chukar (around 1990 IIRR). The main problem was that while the initial (F1) crosson the game farms was very productive, producing lots of vigorous young they in their turn (the F2 generation) produced very few young indeed whether paired with other hybrids or pure red-legs. Ideal for game rearers but a disaster for wild red-leg populations, of which the UK's is now of international importance.

Thanks for the response Touty. Looks as if I was lucky to see the bird which ever species it was. Lets hope I was mistaken and it was a pure Red-Leg!!