{"id":20960,"date":"2015-03-16T05:30:08","date_gmt":"2015-03-16T11:30:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=20960"},"modified":"2026-04-28T06:16:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T11:16:41","slug":"chukar-portrait","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/03\/16\/chukar-portrait\/","title":{"rendered":"Chukar Portrait"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload aligncenter wp-image-165322 size-full\" title=\"Springtime Chukar portrait, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah\" src=\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-portrait-mia-mcpherson-9979.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-portrait-mia-mcpherson-9979.jpg\" alt=\"Springtime Chukar portrait, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah\" width=\"850\" height=\"607\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27850%27%20height%3D%27607%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20850%20607%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27850%27%20height%3D%27607%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-portrait-mia-mcpherson-9979-200x143.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-portrait-mia-mcpherson-9979-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-portrait-mia-mcpherson-9979-400x286.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-portrait-mia-mcpherson-9979-600x428.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-portrait-mia-mcpherson-9979-768x548.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-portrait-mia-mcpherson-9979.jpg 850w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><span style=\"color: #808080;\">Springtime Chukar portrait &#8211; Nikon D810, f6.3, 1\/1600, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p>While photographing Black-billed Magpies last week I noticed a pair of Chukars up close and decided to take portraits of the closest bird. It isn&#8217;t all that often that these upland game birds get this close to me so I jumped at the opportunity.<\/p>\n<p>The Chukars on <a href=\"http:\/\/stateparks.utah.gov\/parks\/antelope-island\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Antelope Island State Park<\/span><\/a> have been calling from the rocks and chasing each other around through the sage, rabbitbrush, and boulders for a couple of weeks now and their squabbles are always great fun to watch and photograph.<\/p>\n<p>It won&#8217;t be long and there will be little Chukars running around!<\/p>\n<p>Life is good.<\/p>\n<p>Mia<\/p>\n<p>Click <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/chukar-images\/\">here<\/a><\/span> to see more of my Chukar photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n<p>P.S. I didn&#8217;t spot any <a title=\"Hoping for Curlews\" href=\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/03\/15\/hoping-for-curlews\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">curlews yesterday<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While photographing Black-billed Magpies last week I noticed a pair of Chukars up close and decided to take portraits of the closest bird.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":165322,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[511,27,442,1022,26],"tags":[4146,445,4773,4142,11978,4046,165,4147],"class_list":["post-20960","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-antelope-island-state-park","category-avian","category-chukars","category-davis-county-utah","category-utah","tag-alectoris-chukar","tag-chukar","tag-chukars","tag-close-up","tag-desert-island","tag-portrait","tag-spring","tag-upland-game-bird"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-portrait-mia-mcpherson-9979.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-5s4","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":45634,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/03\/18\/photographing-chukars-on-antelope-island\/","url_meta":{"origin":20960,"position":0},"title":"Photographing Chukars on Antelope Island","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 18, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday morning I was able to spend time photographing a pair of Chukars on Antelope Island State Park in a grassy area that has begun to turn green.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Antelope Island State Park&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Fluffy Chukar portrait, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-fluffy-portrait-mia-mcpherson-7086.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-fluffy-portrait-mia-mcpherson-7086.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-fluffy-portrait-mia-mcpherson-7086.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-fluffy-portrait-mia-mcpherson-7086.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":37526,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/03\/29\/antelope-island-chukars-from-chicks-to-adults\/","url_meta":{"origin":20960,"position":1},"title":"Antelope Island Chukars &#8211; From Chicks to Adults","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 29, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Antelope Island Chukars don't just attract out of town visitors to the island, they still call in locals like myself to see, hear and photograph them.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Antelope Island State Park&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Chukar calling from a hilltop on Antelope Island State Park, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-calling-mia-mcpherson-7952.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-calling-mia-mcpherson-7952.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-calling-mia-mcpherson-7952.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-calling-mia-mcpherson-7952.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2652,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2011\/07\/05\/the-chukars-of-antelope-island-throughout-the-year\/","url_meta":{"origin":20960,"position":2},"title":"Chukars of Antelope Island &#8211; Throughout the Year","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 5, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Photographs of the Chukars on Antelope Island State Park, Utah throughout the year.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Antelope Island State Park&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Chukar calling in Black Mustard on Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/chukar-calling-sunrise-utah-mia-mcpherson-7277.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/chukar-calling-sunrise-utah-mia-mcpherson-7277.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/chukar-calling-sunrise-utah-mia-mcpherson-7277.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/chukar-calling-sunrise-utah-mia-mcpherson-7277.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":21156,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/04\/02\/chukar-in-gold\/","url_meta":{"origin":20960,"position":3},"title":"Chukar in Gold","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 2, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Before my recent trip to Capitol Reef National Park and photographing grouse in Wayne County I photographed this Chukar on Antelope Island State Park.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Antelope Island State Park&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Chukar in gold colored grasses on Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-golden-mia-mcpherson-1810.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-golden-mia-mcpherson-1810.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-golden-mia-mcpherson-1810.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-golden-mia-mcpherson-1810.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":98032,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/12\/08\/close-up-chukar-on-fresh-snow\/","url_meta":{"origin":20960,"position":4},"title":"Close Up Chukar On Fresh Snow","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 8, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"I came across this photo of an adult Chukar standing in top of fresh snow the other day and felt a pang of sadness.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Antelope Island State Park&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult Chukar standing on top of snow, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/chukar-on-a-bright-winter-day-mia-mcpherson-5629.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/chukar-on-a-bright-winter-day-mia-mcpherson-5629.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/chukar-on-a-bright-winter-day-mia-mcpherson-5629.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/chukar-on-a-bright-winter-day-mia-mcpherson-5629.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20161,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/02\/16\/a-chukar-lichen-and-a-tintic-quartzite-boulder\/","url_meta":{"origin":20960,"position":5},"title":"Chukar, Lichen and a Tintic Quartzite Boulder","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 16, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday was a nice day to be out photographing on Antelope Island State Park, the sun was shining, the wind was minimal and there were a few birds to be found.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Antelope Island State Park&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Chukar, lichen and a Tintic Quartzite boulder on Antelope Island, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-lichen-mia-mcpherson-2881.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chukar-lichen-mia-mcpherson-2881.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, 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2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20960","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20960"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20960\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":175524,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20960\/revisions\/175524"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/165322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20960"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20960"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20960"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}