Diet

What does the Chukar Partridge eat?

The chukar partridge is an omnivore. Their diet includes a range of plants such as roots, grains and shoots and insects.

Learn more about the Chukar Partridge in this video from Scott Ramos on YouTube

Range

Where do you find the Chukar Partridge?

The natural range of the chukar partridge takes in parts of Asia, Africa and Europe. Here they can be found in the following countries - Afghanistan; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bulgaria; China; Cyprus; Egypt; Georgia; Greece; India; Iran; Iraq; Israel;

Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kyrgyzstan; Lebanon; Mongolia; Nepal; Oman; Pakistan; Palestine; Russia; Saudi Arabia; Syrian Arab Republic; Tajikistan; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan.

These animals are a popular gamebird and releases, both accidental and planned have seen their range expand to the following countries - Bahrain; Canada; France; Germany; Italy; New Zealand; Norway; North Macedonia; Portugal; Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha; South Africa; Spain and the United States.

Habitat

Where can the Chukar Partridge survive?

These animals live in semi-arid habitats such as grassland and shrubland. These often have low levels of trees with small shrubs providing cover.

They have adapted well to human interference and will be found in vineyards and agricultural areas.

Credit: Public Domain

Reproduction

How does the Chukar Partridge produce its young?

Breeding takes place from mid-April to May.

Females will produce between 7 and 12 eggs which are deposited in their nest. Their eggs are colored pale yellow with reddish brown spots.

Their nest is a shallow scrape in the ground. It is sheltered under a bush and lined with leaves.

The eggs will hatch after 24 days. Chicks can fly for the first time at two weeks old. Females perform most of the duties involving raising the chicks but in some cases the male has been involved raising the chicks.

They achieve adult size by almost 2 months old.

Behavior

What does the Chukar Partridge do during its day?

These birds spend much of their time on the ground and would rather walk than fly.

They will associate in groups of up to 40 birds.

Males produce a chuk chuk chuk call from which their name is taken.

Credit: Public Domain

Predators and Threats

What stops the Chukar Partridge from surviving and thriving?

Predators of these birds are birds of prey.

Populations of the chukar partridge are considered stable and have been expanded through introductions in to areas where they did not previously occur.

This species has been seen to decline in population during extreme winter conditions.

Humans impact their population by using pesticides in their environment and habitat degradation. They are subject to hunting both of wild populations and birds specifically introduced for this purpose. Introduced birds may not be the same as those in the local area which can affect their genetics.

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Quick facts

This species may also be known simply as the chukar or the chukor.

Their name is onomatopoeic meaning that it refers to the sound of their call.

They were first described for western science during 1830.

Credit: Public Domain