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January 28, 2024  |  By Matt Hamas

Spotted Touch-Me-Not

Spotted Touch-Me-Not Live

Spotted Touch-Me-Not - IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

This beautiful flowering plant is native to North America and is commonly found around creeks

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.

Mount Madison

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.

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.

Spotted Touch-Me-Not Front View
Spotted Touch-Me-Not Fly

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.

Hoverflies are important pollinators because they visit a variety of wild plants and commercial crops. Hoverflies roles as pollinators doesn’t get the attention that bees get. The belief is that bees with their larger bodies and hair are better carriers of pollen. However, if a hoverfly were to make more flower trips than a bee, perhaps the hoverfly could compensate for their lack of body size and be an equally important pollinator? This has yet to be determined, and is a hot topic for research right now.

Butterfly on Goldenrod

Hoverflies are important pollinators because they visit a variety of wild plants and commercial crops. Hoverflies roles as pollinators doesn’t get the attention that bees get. The belief is that bees with their larger bodies and hair are better carriers of pollen. However, if a hoverfly were to make more flower trips than a bee, perhaps the hoverfly could compensate for their lack of body size and be an equally important pollinator? This has yet to be determined, and is a hot topic for research right now.

Hoverflies are important pollinators because they visit a variety of wild plants and commercial crops. Hoverflies roles as pollinators doesn’t get the attention that bees get. The belief is that bees with their larger bodies and hair are better carriers of pollen. However, if a hoverfly were to make more flower trips than a bee, perhaps the hoverfly could compensate for their lack of body size and be an equally important pollinator? This has yet to be determined, and is a hot topic for research right now.

Their call, which they commonly perform in the mornings and evenings, sounds like chuck or chuker

Did you know?

  • There are over 6000 species of hoverfly across the world!
  • Hoverflies only live from a few days to a few weeks.
  • Hoverfly larvae feed on aphids (tiny sap sucking insects).
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Matt Hamas and Ben Ivers here. We are focused on fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of the environment. We endeavor to bring you a unique perspective of the wild. Our photos are being placed here for you to enjoy. Please feel free to download any of the photos for your personal use. We are currently seeking partners for printing and developing photos.

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