The chukar is an upland game bird that belongs to the pheasant family
This photo was taken while Jill and I were walking around the top of Haleakala after having watched the sunrise on her birthday. We were in Hawaii for our honeymoon, staying on Maui. We woke up dark and early that day, about 3am, so that we could make the two-hour drive to the 10,000 foot plus summit of Haleakala. We made it in time to take in the breathtaking sight that is a sunrise on top of a volcano on a tropical island! As we were exploring the sites post-sunrise, we came across this bird running about the mountaintop. This bird is known as a chukar.
The chukar is an upland game bird that belongs to the pheasant family, Phasianidae. It is commonly known as the chukar partridge, and its scientific name is Alectoris chukar. It was introduced to Hawaii from Asia. Its native range includes: Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Kurdistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, India, and Nepal. It has a slight presence on the Sinai Peninsula. The chukar is commonly found in rocky open hillsides that have grasses or scattered scrubs. It can be found at all altitudes, but it is typically found from 6,600 feet to 13,100 feet. They are only found in dry, low-humidity locations.
If you are trying to distinguish this bird from the rock partridge, Philby’s partridge, and Przevalski’s partridge, there are a few characteristics to look out for. The chukar has distinctive black and white bars on its sides and a black band that goes from its forehead across the eyes down the back of the head and under its throat to form a necklace. The throat is white, and the rest of the body is a light brown mixed with grey. It has a coral-colored bill, and pinkish legs.
There are some particularly interesting behaviors of the chukar. In non-breeding seasons, they can be found in small groups, or coveys, of 10 to 50 birds. They breed in the summertime, during which the males become much more vocal and will fight one another for dominance. Their call, which they commonly perform in the mornings and evenings, sounds like chuck or chuker, and is where their name is derived from. They tend to run instead of fly when disturbed.
Their call, which they commonly perform in the mornings and evenings, sounds like chuck or chuker
Did you know?
- Male chukars are monogamous.
- They lay 7 to 14 eggs at a time.
- Chukars eat a wide variety of seeds and insects as food.
- They roost on rocky slopes or underneath shrubs.
- In Hindu mythology, the chukar is said to be in love with the moon and to look at it constantly.
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