General

Chukar: Large, quail-like bird with orange-brown and slate-blue upperparts and breast, and black and rufous barred white flanks. White face has sharp black line extending to neck. Bill and legs are bright pink-red. Sexes are similar. Juvenile is smaller, mottled brown and gray, and shows light scales on flanks.

Range and Habitat

Chukar: Introduced from Eurasia; now occurs from British Columbia and Alberta south to California and Colorado. Preferred habitats include arid rocky hillsides and canyons.

Breeding and Nesting

Chukar: Ten to twenty brown spotted, pale yellow eggs, are laid in a ground nest lined with grass and feathers, usually in the shelter of a rock or bush. Incubation ranges from 22 to 24 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Chukar: Eats seeds, grass, forbs, and some shrub fruits; forages on the ground.

Vocalization

Chukar: Call is a loud, fast "chuck-chuck-chuck" along with other various cackling calls.

Similar Species

Chukar: Gray Partridge has a rust-brown face, duller bill, red bars on flanks, and lacks black necklace.