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;Alectoris chukar | ;Alectoris chukar | ||
[[Image:Chukar.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Photo by geomorph <P> Heber Valley, Utah USA]] | [[Image:Chukar.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Photo by geomorph <P> Heber Valley, Utah USA]] | ||
| − | == | + | ==Identification== |
| − | + | L. 32-35cm | |
| − | + | *Light brown back | |
| + | *Grey breast | ||
| + | *Buff belly | ||
| + | *White face | ||
| + | *Black gorget | ||
| + | *Rufous-streaked flanks | ||
| + | *Red legs | ||
| + | When disturbed, it prefers to run rather than fly, but if necessary it flies a short distance on rounded wings. | ||
| + | ===Similar Species=== | ||
| + | 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]]. | ||
| + | ==Distribution== | ||
This partridge has its main (native) range in Asia from Pakistan, India 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, and became established in the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Hawaii. In Great Britain, hybrids between this species and the also introduced Red-legged Partridge are common. | This partridge has its main (native) range in Asia from Pakistan, India 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, and became established in the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Hawaii. In Great Britain, hybrids between this species and the also introduced Red-legged Partridge are common. | ||
==Habitat:== | ==Habitat:== | ||
This is a resident breeder in dry, open, and often hilly country. 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, Drooping Brome (Cheatgrass) is this species' strong food preference. | This is a resident breeder in dry, open, and often hilly country. 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, Drooping Brome (Cheatgrass) is this species' strong food preference. | ||
| + | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| + | A Eurasian upland gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. | ||
| − | == | + | ==Voice== |
| − | + | The song is a noisy ''chuck-chuck-chukar-chukar''. | |
| − | + | ==Discussion== | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
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. | 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. | ||
Revision as of 01:18, 27 January 2008
- Alectoris chukar
Identification
L. 32-35cm
- Light brown back
- Grey breast
- Buff belly
- White face
- Black gorget
- Rufous-streaked flanks
- Red legs
When disturbed, it prefers to run rather than fly, but if necessary it flies a short distance on rounded wings.
Similar Species
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.
Distribution
This partridge has its main (native) range in Asia from Pakistan, India 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, and became established in the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Hawaii. In Great Britain, hybrids between this species and the also introduced Red-legged Partridge are common.
Habitat:
This is a resident breeder in dry, open, and often hilly country. 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, Drooping Brome (Cheatgrass) is this species' strong food preference.
Taxonomy
A Eurasian upland gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds.
Voice
The song is a noisy chuck-chuck-chukar-chukar.
Discussion
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.
The Chukar is the National bird of Pakistan and the name is derived from Chakhoor in Urdu.
