Chukar

Chukars migrate, moving from the high ground to lower regions during massive snows. Also they may move onto south facing slopes to avoid severe cold.

Chukars breed with only one female and mating happens from February to March or April depending on latitude. In New Mexico, nesting begins in April, with egg laying starting in May. In Washington State, the average beginning date for egg laying is earlier. Males often leave the female after egg laying. In early fall the males rejoin the off springs during group formation. Chukars create coveys of one or more broods, often shortly after hatching.

The female Chukar lays her eggs at a rate of one per day to one every other day. Clutch size ranges from 10 to 20 eggs, with an average of 15 eggs per clutch. Dry weather years greatly reduced clutch size and if Mother Nature presents extreme drought, breeding may not transpire at all. Production of two regular broods in one season occurred while in captivity, and suspected to take place in wild Chukars. Commonly adult Chukars restore their nests following the loss of a clutch.

The typical incubation term is twenty- four days. The highly evolved young abandon the nest shortly after hatching. About 2 weeks after hatching and as early as 10 days after hatching single flight efforts occur. The entire brood makes a flight together by three weeks of age. By four weeks of age the chicks form flight habits matching those of adult Chukars. The brood and the adult female continue to stay near each other. The Chukar occupy open, rocky, dry mountain slopes, hillsides, or canyon walls from below sea level to 12,000 feet elevation. The birds appear to prefer steep slopes. Slope grade usually rises to at least 200 feet. You can also detect the Chukar on open and flat deserts with sparse grasses and on barren plateaus. Nesting and foraging habitat seem similar: dry, rocky slopes with open, brushy cover. You will find Chukars and Chukar broods within 2 miles of water.

Chukars use rocky slopes for shade and hiding places for escape. They usually spend the hottest part of the day in shady cover. They perch on the ground underneath sage brush or junipers and in the shelter of rock outcrops. They also roost in open rocky places. The Chukar doesn't need dense brush cover.

Mr. Bohl described Chukar roosting cover in New Mexico as follows:

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