The Chukar is not a true quail at all but a partridge, introduced from Eurasia and now thoroughly established across the dry, rocky West. It is noticeably bigger than any native quail and unmistakable up close: cream throat ringed by a sharp black necklace, bold black bars down the flanks, and coral-red bill and legs. It is raised in quantity for hunting preserves and for training bird dogs, since it holds and flushes reliably. Hardy and undemanding in a pen, it needs dry footing and room to run.
Cold hardy
Heat tolerant
Broody
Flighty
Egg colorCream Spotted
Egg production80–120 / year
TemperamentFlighty
BroodinessOccasional
ClimateCold hardy, Heat tolerant
PurposeMeat And Release
Weight
Weight1-1.5 lb
How to spot it
Plumage
Grey-brown above, buff below, with heavy black-and-chestnut barring along the flanks
Sex differences
Sexes look alike; males average larger and may carry a small leg spur knob
Call
A rising, chuckling “chuk-chuk-chukar”
Look for
Red bill and red legs with a clean black necklace round a cream throat — no quail has this combination
