Chukar (Alectoris chukar)

Measurements: 32-34cm long.

Principally a bird of Asia, the Chukar is only found in the extreme east of Europe, in Greece (especially Crete), Bulgaria, Cyprus and Turkey. It is generally found in more arid habitats than the other similar partridges, including scree slopes, rocky hillsides and plains with short grass and a few scattered bushes. Sites such as these may be occupied at any elevation between sea level and 3000m. The Chukar appears to have a more restricted diet than other partridges, subsisting largely upon grass seeds which it finds by digging into the soil with its bill. The young do take a few insects, too, such as ants. In its dry environment the Chukar has been recorded walking 3.5km in a day simply to find water.

By Karunakar Rayker from India – Chukar Partridge, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8745470

The name “Chukar” comes, predictably enough, from the bird’s call. When flocks have been separated it is used to bring the members back together, and is thus known as the “rallying call”. In spring, though, the very same signal has a quite different meaning. Males use it as their territorial signal, and it is thus used to keep the birds apart.

From ‘Birds: A Complete Guide to All British and European Species’, by Dominic Couzens. Published by Collins and reproduced with permission.