Chukar Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesChukar
Adult
Chickenlike with a small round head and a plump body. Note bold striping on the sides, red bill and creamy throat bordered in black.
© Ian Routley / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, April 06, 2019Adult
Chickenlike with a small round head and a plump body. Note bold striping on the sides, red bill, creamy throat, and black eyeline that extends down around the throat.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, November 22, 2003Adult
Runs and walks along the ground while searching for leaves and seeds. Introduced to the United States (including Hawaii) and Canada from southern Eurasia.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryHawaii, April 01, 2002Adult
Introduced to North America from southern Eurasia as a game bird.
© Justyn Stahl / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, August 10, 2016Adult
Found in steep rocky grasslands and shrublands in the West.
© Justyn Stahl / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, August 08, 2016Adult and juvenile
© Fanis Theofanopoulos (ASalafa Deri) / Macaulay LibraryNorthern Aegean, June 05, 2020Similar SpeciesGray Partridge
Adult
The Gray Partridge is grayer overall and lacks the Chukar's thick black stripes on the sides and the red bill.
© John Hanna / Macaulay LibraryIdaho, May 10, 2014Similar SpeciesCalifornia Quail
Female
Female California Quail is fairly dark brown, not sandy brown like a Chukar. It also lacks the Chukar's strong black side stripes and red bill.
© Ariel Cabrera Foix / Macaulay LibraryRegión Metropolitana de Santiago, April 11, 2017Similar SpeciesMountain Quail
Adult
The Mountain Quail is mostly gray and rich brown instead of sandy brown, and it has white stripes on brown flanks, the opposite of Chukar's black stripes on pale flanks.
© Matt Davis / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, July 15, 2015Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies(Order: Galliformes, Family: Phasianidae)
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