Description:

A stocky, medium-sized dull brown to grey partridge. Has black stripe through eye which extends to form black gorget, encircling creamy-white throat; broad chestnut and black rib-like bars on flanks, and bright red bill and legs. Displays rufous corners to tail in flight.

Distribution:

Common resident present in all the mid to higher valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan. Prefers open, arid rocky hills, barren hillsides with scattered scrub, grassy slopes, stony ravines and dry terraced cultivation, from 1500m up to 4500m.

Behavior:

A rapid runner and strong fast flyer. May form huge coveys during periods of harsh winter weather, although groups more typically number up to individuals. Bulbous roots, grain and shoots of grass and cereals, berries, and insects (including their eggs). During periods of high rainfall, grass seeds dominate diet, and during hard winters birds dig extensively for bulbs and rhizomes.

Photo Gallery:

Range & Occurrence:

Resident Species

Summer Breeder

Winter Visitor

Passage Migrant

Distribution Map of Chukar in Gilgit-Baltistan (Status: )

Seasonal Occurrence of Chukar

Resources:

Birds of Pakistan: Helm Field Guides (R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
The Birds of Pakistan (T. J. Roberts)
Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (C. Inskipp, R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide (P. Rasmussen & J. Anderton)
Birds of India: Collins Field Guide (N. Arlott)
Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (S. Ali & S. D. Ripley)
Handbook of the Birds of the World (https://www.hbw.com)
The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition
iNaturalist BoGB (inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-gilgit-baltistan)
Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan (http://fb.me/birdsgb)

*Gallery images on this page are shared from flickr.com, and are copyrighted to their respective creators or owners.