{"id":2652,"date":"2011-07-05T11:13:47","date_gmt":"2011-07-05T17:13:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=2652"},"modified":"2025-11-29T07:33:37","modified_gmt":"2025-11-29T13:33:37","slug":"the-chukars-of-antelope-island-throughout-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2011\/07\/05\/the-chukars-of-antelope-island-throughout-the-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Chukars of Antelope Island – Throughout the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chukars<\/h2>\n

\"ChukarChukar calling in early morning light with Black Mustard in the background – Nikon D200, f6.3, 1\/640, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 265mm, natural early morning light<\/span><\/p>\n

I can recall vividly the first time I saw a wild Chukar on Antelope Island State Park<\/span><\/a> and remember thinking “Wow, what an exotic bird!<\/em>”<\/p>\n

That thought probably was a bit strange though because at the time I was living in Florida and quite often saw birds there that would definitely be considered “exotic” here in Utah.<\/p>\n

\"ChukarChukar in sagebrush – Nikon D200, f7.1, 1\/160, ISO 320, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 325mm, low light<\/span><\/p>\n

The fact is that Chukars are “exotic” any where they are found in North America. Chukars are an introduced upland game bird species that originally come from Eurasia.<\/p>\n

After introduction to the Great Basin feral populations became established and the Chukars have thrived in certain areas, one of those locations is Antelope Island State Park in northern Utah which is surrounded by the Great Salt Lake.<\/p>\n

\"ChukarChukar up close and personal – <\/span>Nikon D200, f8, 1\/1250, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Chukars have red bills, gray crowns, a cream colored throat\u00a0which is\u00a0bordered by a thick black area of feathers that makes me think they are wearing a V-necked sweater.<\/p>\n

The black border extends upward past the eye and across the forehead, the reddish orbital rings stands out quite well from the black feathers.<\/p>\n

Chukars are rotund birds and I believe the image above shows that quite well. To me it almost appears that the Chukar has swallowed a full water-balloon whole!<\/p>\n

\"AdultAdult Chukar in front of Black Mustard – <\/span>Nikon D200, f6.3, 1\/640, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 265mm, natural early morning light<\/span><\/p>\n

Chukars have\u00a0beautifully marked flanks with cream, black and slightly rufous stripes, are primarily gray with pale pinkish gray backs. Chukars have short tails, reddish legs and their wings are short and rounded.<\/p>\n

The females are slightly smaller than the males and the females lack spurs. I only learned about the spurs today while researching this species so I’ll have to start looking for them to ID the gender of the birds I am photographing.<\/p>\n

\"AdultAdult Chukar feeding on the ground – <\/span>Nikon D200, f8, , 1\/1250, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Chukars are seed-eaters though they also eat insects. Cheatgrass; an introduced species from Eurasia, is a preferred food for Chukars, they ingest both the seeds and the green leaves.<\/p>\n

It makes perfect sense to me that they would\u00a0eat a grass species that they ate in their homeland. Cheatgrass is considered an obnoxious weed in North America\u00a0so I’m sure no one minds the Chukars eating their fill.<\/p>\n

\"ChukarChukar running across the Oolitic Sand of the Great Salt Lake – <\/span>Nikon D200, f6.3, 1\/2000, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Because Antelope Island is located within the Great Salt Lake there are times when Chukars can be seen scurrying along the dunes of Oolitic Sand found on the shorelines. I find the formation\u00a0of Oolitic sand quite fascinating, for more information about it you can click here<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

While on Antelope Island I most often hear the Chukars before I see them. They cluck often which can clue a photographer in on where they might be located. Chukars form loose flocks, I have heard the flocks called coveys or cr\u00e8ches but simply prefer to call them a “flock”.<\/p>\n

\"ChukarChukar on gravel – <\/span>Nikon D200, f8, 1\/1600, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

On the island you can see Chukars in different habitats.<\/p>\n

They can be seen on grassy slopes, in among the rocks and boulders, the dunes, and in areas with sagebrush and rabbitbrush. \u00a0Early in the morning I often see them perched on top of the rocks or winding their way through the grasses.<\/p>\n

\"ChukarChukar walking down a boulder – <\/span>Nikon D200, f6.3, 1\/400, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 325mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Chukars are social birds so if you see one there are probably more around.<\/p>\n

I believe there are times when the Chukars I spot on top of rocks or boulders are the “lookout” or “sentinel” bird that will alarm the others that are feeding on the ground of the presence of a predator.<\/p>\n

\"AdultAdult Chukar with chicks – <\/span>Nikon D200, f5.6, 1\/1000, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light.<\/span><\/p>\n

The nests of Chukars are shallow scrapes lined with grasses and breast feathers, my research indicates that they are difficult to find and I’d have to agree as I have never found or seen one.<\/p>\n

I’ve read where Chukars lay anywhere from seven to twenty-one eggs with the average being around fifteen.<\/p>\n

I personally have seen adults with loads of chicks running all over the place. Keeping track of that many young must be akin to herding cats!<\/p>\n

Towards the end of summer and into fall some of the adults begin to look ratty with the edges of their feathers appearing worn and often bare spots of skin are showing on or near the neck. They aren’t so “pretty” then but I’ll still photograph them.<\/p>\n

\"ChukarChukar calling in the snow – <\/span>Nikon D200, f7.1, 1\/2000, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I haven’t spent a whole lot of time observing Chukars<\/span><\/a> of Antelope Island during the winter but they are certainly present at that time of the year. They are not a migratory species.<\/p>\n

I hope to spend more time on the island in winter photographing them though as they are very beautiful against a fresh, white snow and sunny skies.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

To view more of my Chukar photos plus facts and information about this species click here<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Photographs of the Chukars on Antelope Island State Park, Utah throughout the year. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":164973,"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":[4004,4146,690,2499,4072,4068,445,4773,5388,11006,4040,4247,4136,4005,686,56,4149,4148,4147,4193],"class_list":["post-2652","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-adult","tag-alectoris-chukar","tag-black-mustard","tag-brassica-nigra","tag-calling","tag-chicks","tag-chukar","tag-chukars","tag-covey","tag-creche","tag-feeding","tag-flock","tag-foraging","tag-great-salt-lake","tag-introduced","tag-juveniles-2","tag-oolitic-sand","tag-running","tag-upland-game-bird","tag-young"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/chukar-calling-sunrise-utah-mia-mcpherson-7277.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-GM","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":37526,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/03\/29\/antelope-island-chukars-from-chicks-to-adults\/","url_meta":{"origin":2652,"position":0},"title":"Antelope Island Chukars – 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 "Antelope Island State Park"","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":7550,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/02\/18\/more-chukars-in-the-snow\/","url_meta":{"origin":2652,"position":1},"title":"More Chukars In The Snow","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 18, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Yes, more Chukars in the snow! 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