Chukar

The chukar (Alectoris chukar) is a Eurasian upland gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. Other common names of this bird include 'Chukker' (sometimes misspelled as 'Chuker'), 'Chukar Partridge', 'Red-legged Partridge', 'Rock Partridge', 'Indian Hill Partridge', 'Chukka', 'Chukkar', 'Chukor', 'Chukore', 'Chikone', 'Kabk', 'Kau-Kau', and 'Keklik'. The Chukar is the National bird of Pakistan.[n 1].

Chukar
Alectoris-chukar-001.jpg
National bird of Pakistan
Conservation status
Scientific classification
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A. chukar
Binomial name
Alectoris chukar
(Gray, 1830)
Alectoris chukar falki
National bird of Pakistan

Distribution

This partridge has its native range in Asia from Pakistan and Kashmir, and Afghanistan in the east to southeastern Europe in the west, and is closely related and similar to its western equivalent, the Red-legged Partridge, Alectoris rufa. It has been introduced widely, and became established in the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Hawaii. In Great Britain, hybrids between this species and the also introduced Red-legged Partridge are common.

Notes

  1. “The Official National bird and Avifaunae emblem of Pakistan” respectively

References