Alectoris chukar - Chukar Partridge
Feather characters. Barbules are rather long (1.6-2.5 mm) and divided into pigmented nodes and partly pigmented (less than 50%) internodes. Both vase- and ring-shaped nodes are present. Nodes are equally distributed along the entire length of barbules (22-24 per mm). Ring shaped nodes are present on middle- and basal- section of basal barbules. Some nodes become detached and form groups. These multiple nodes may be hard to find. When ring-like nodal structures become detached, the pigment remains in the division between cells, pigment is in not in ring like nodal structure. Towards distal part, nodes gradually decrease in size and become vase shaped. Villi are absent and internodes are occasionally kinked. Minute prongs are present on distal end of barbules and on both sides of the pennulum.
Field characters. Size 33 cm. Weight: male 619 g, female 537 g (Dunning, 1993). Closely similar to Rock Partridge (Alectoris graeca, not included in BRIS) but differs in browner upperparts, greater width of flank bars, and presence of speckles on buff lower throat. Supercilium, lores, and cheeks yellow-white; chin, throat, and upper neck pale yellow-buff; black eye stripe interrupted with rufous behind eye. Chest and crown grey, nape and upperparts grey-brown. Juvenile lacks clear head pattern, throat marks, and flank bars.
Voice. Voice resembles cackle of domestic hen.
Distribution. Fairly rare resident of south-eastern Europe. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Haunts arid or semi-arid stony uplands, dry grasslands, deserts, scree slopes, and dry valleys.
Food. Mainly seeds of grasses and weeds, to a lesser extent also insects.