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Difference between revisions of "Chukar Partridge" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Image:Chukar.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|geomorph|geomorph}}<br />Heber Valley, [[Utah]], [[USA]]]]
 
;[[:Category:Alectoris|Alectoris]] chukar
 
;[[:Category:Alectoris|Alectoris]] chukar
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[[Image:Chukar.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by geomorph.<br/>Photo taken: Heber Valley, [[Utah]], USA.]]
 
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
 
Length 32-35cm
 
Length 32-35cm
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*Rufous-streaked flanks
 
*Rufous-streaked flanks
 
*Red legs
 
*Red legs
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====Similar Species====
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It is browner on the back and has more of a yellowish tinge to the foreneck than [[Rock Partridge]].  [[Red-legged Partridge]] lacks the gorget.
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==Distribution==
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Native to [[Asia]] from [[Pakistan]], [[India]] and [[Afghanistan]] in the east to south-eastern [[Europe]] in the west.
  
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When disturbed, it prefers to run rather than fly, but if necessary it flies a short distance on rounded wings.
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There have been widespread introductions which have become established in the [[United States]], [[Canada]], [[New Zealand]] and [[Hawaii]].
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====Similar Species====
 
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It is very similar to the [[Rock Partridge]], 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]].
 
  
−
==Distribution==
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In [[Great Britain]], hybrids between this species and the also introduced [[Red-legged Partridge]] are common.
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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]]. 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.
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====Status====
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Fluctuations in population is mainly due to the weather during the breeding season.
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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There are 14 subspecies.
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====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>====
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There are 14 subspecies:
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*''A. c. cypriotes'': South-eastern [[Bulgaria]] to southern [[Syria]], [[Crete]], [[Rhodes (Rhodos)|Rhodes]], and [[Cyprus]]
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*''A. c. sinaica'': North [[Syria|Syrian]] Desert south to [[Sinai]] Peninsula
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*''A. c. kurdestanica'': [[Caucasus]] Mountains to [[Iran]]
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*''A. c. werae'': Eastern [[Iraq]] and south-western [[Iran]]
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*''A. c. koroviakovi'': Eastern [[Iran]] to [[Pakistan]]
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*''A. c. subpallida'': [[Tajikistan]] (Kyzl Kum and Kara Kum mountains)
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*''A. c. falki'': North-central [[Afghanistan]] to Pamirs and western [[China]] (western Xinjiang)
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*''A. c. dzungarica'': North-western [[Mongolia]] to [[Russia|Russian]] Altai and eastern [[Tibet]]
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*''A. c. pallescens'': North-eastern [[Afghanistan]] to Ladakh and western [[Tibet]]
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*''A. c. pallida'': North-western [[China]] (Tarim basin of western Xinjiang)
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*''A. c. fallax'': North-western [[China]] (eastern and southern Tien Shan Mountains of Xinjiang)
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*''A. c. chukar'': Eastern [[Afghanistan]] to eastern [[Nepal]]
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*''A. c. pubescens'': Inner [[Mongolia]] to north-western Sichuan and eastern Qinghai
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*''A. c. potanini'': Western [[Mongolia]]
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
This is a resident breeder in dry, open, and often hilly country.  
 
This is a resident breeder in dry, open, and often hilly country.  
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
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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.
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====Movement====
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When disturbed, it prefers to run rather than fly, but if necessary it flies a short distance on rounded wings.
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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.
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====Breeding====
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The clutch of 8-20 eggs is laid in a ground scrape with minimal lining.
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====Diet====
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They eat a variety of seeds and some insects. Drooping Brome (Cheatgrass) is their favourite food.
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thDec09}}#Wikipedia
 +
{{ref}}
 
====Vocalisation====
 
====Vocalisation====
 
The song is a noisy ''chuck-chuck-chukar-chukar''.
 
The song is a noisy ''chuck-chuck-chukar-chukar''.

Revision as of 17:29, 24 February 2010

Photo by geomorph
Heber Valley, Utah, USA
Alectoris chukar

Identification

Length 32-35cm

  • Light brown back
  • Grey breast
  • Buff belly
  • White face
  • Black gorget
  • Rufous-streaked flanks
  • Red legs

Similar Species

It is browner on the back and has more of a yellowish tinge to the foreneck than Rock Partridge. Red-legged Partridge lacks the gorget.

Distribution

Native to Asia from Pakistan, India and Afghanistan in the east to south-eastern Europe in the west.

There have been widespread introductions which have become 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.

Status

Fluctuations in population is mainly due to the weather during the breeding season.

Taxonomy

Subspecies[1]

There are 14 subspecies:

  • A. c. cypriotes: South-eastern Bulgaria to southern Syria, Crete, Rhodes, and Cyprus
  • A. c. sinaica: North Syrian Desert south to Sinai Peninsula
  • A. c. kurdestanica: Caucasus Mountains to Iran
  • A. c. werae: Eastern Iraq and south-western Iran
  • A. c. koroviakovi: Eastern Iran to Pakistan
  • A. c. subpallida: Tajikistan (Kyzl Kum and Kara Kum mountains)
  • A. c. falki: North-central Afghanistan to Pamirs and western China (western Xinjiang)
  • A. c. dzungarica: North-western Mongolia to Russian Altai and eastern Tibet
  • A. c. pallescens: North-eastern Afghanistan to Ladakh and western Tibet
  • A. c. pallida: North-western China (Tarim basin of western Xinjiang)
  • A. c. fallax: North-western China (eastern and southern Tien Shan Mountains of Xinjiang)
  • A. c. chukar: Eastern Afghanistan to eastern Nepal
  • A. c. pubescens: Inner Mongolia to north-western Sichuan and eastern Qinghai
  • A. c. potanini: Western Mongolia

Habitat

This is a resident breeder in dry, open, and often hilly country.

Behaviour

Movement

When disturbed, it prefers to run rather than fly, but if necessary it flies a short distance on rounded wings.

Breeding

The clutch of 8-20 eggs is laid in a ground scrape with minimal lining.

Diet

They eat a variety of seeds and some insects. Drooping Brome (Cheatgrass) is their favourite food.

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
  2. Wikipedia

Recommended Citation

Vocalisation

The song is a noisy chuck-chuck-chukar-chukar.

External Links

Retrieved from ‘https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/index.php?title=Chukar_Partridge&oldid=153298’
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