slgwv's photos with the keyword: Alectoris chukar

Alectoris chukar. A partridge native to Asia ranging from the Mideast to India and Pakistan. It was introduced as a game bird into the US mountain West in the 1930s and populations are now thoroughly established thruout western North America. This one was part of a covey including many young birds (chukarlings?) in Calico Ghost Town park, California, down in the hot part of the Mojave Desert! Btw, the dictionary will tell you that it's pronounced "choo-KAR", but in the US West it's universally "CHUCK-er". For a time the minor league baseball team in Reno, Nevada, was the "Chukars," and their mascot was "Chubby Chukar." (!)