Color coordinated perch and bird.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I have a soft spot for photos of Chukars calling from rocks, especially when the rock isn’t one of the glaringly white ones on Antelope Island. The rock in this older photo is on the island but thankfully it isn’t one of the bright white ones. As a plus, the rock is perfectly color coordinated with some of the colors of the Chukar. I’m always grateful to Mother Nature when she provides that little aesthetic touch that I have no control over.
Over the years I’ve posted a number of photos of calling Chukars but I don’t believe I’ve ever said much about the actual sounds they make, or their functions. So here’s what Cornell’s Birds of the World has to say about both.
“Rally Call – most common call and the one from which species derives its name. Commences as low-intensity chuck, chuck, chuck that changes to per-chuck, per-chuck as intensity increases. This in turn gives way to chukar-chukar-chukar, which with ever-increasing intensity and volume becomes 3-syllable chuckara-chuckara-chuckara . This call usually given from rocky vantage point and carries for great distances. Both sexes use this call. During summer, fall, and winter, when coveys are flushed, this call is the primary method used for locating one another. Function of this call during breeding season is primarily to space males rather than to attract a mate. Female uses this call when separated from mate.“
Finding a quality sound or video clip of a calling Chukar can be a challenge but All About Birds has some pretty decent Chukar sound clips. If you’re interested, here’s a link to several of them.
The one I hear most often is a variation of the first one labeled “Song”.
Ron
I just love these pretty little interlopers.
Arwen, some interlopers are easy to tolerate.
Yes, yes they are. They are little charmers. If I lived where I could have birds like this, I’d do guinea hens and chukars!
Nice photo, once upon a time when there was green on the island.
Exactly.
As you know I have a very soft spot for the ‘Beagle Boys’ and hearing their calls was an extra bonus.
I know you do, EC. I thought of that this morning when I was composing my post.
A handsome/beautiful bird you’ve captured there, in a beautiful setting. I’m glad the green grass can’t hide those chunky, bright orange legs and feet! Interesting that of the five song/call recordings on the Cornell site, only one in US (California at that).
PS — I hope your back issues resolve soon!
“Interesting that of the five song/call recordings on the Cornell site, only one in US”
Chris, Chukars are native to the Middle East and southern Asia so that’s probably why.
Oh boy, if only I’d looked a bit more closely at the Cornell info! But this is better than my original thinking that it was because Americans are more interested in hunting them than listening to them! (Altho’ that may still be true…) 😉
“Altho’ that may still be true”
It probably is true, Chris. They were imported to North America strictly for hunting.
😂
Well *of course* they were! My fellow Americans …. 🙄
I was going to make up a limerick about Chuckars, but, this being a family-oriented blog, I’ll just complement you on the photo and chuckle at the Chukars cluck(er).
“I was going to make up a limerick about Chuckars…”
Lyle, I was laughing out loud before I even finished that sentence!
What would us poets do without Chukars and the man from Nantucket?
Thank you for including the link for the Chukar call sounds. Fun to hear!
Good. Thanks, Kathleen.
Your Chukar posts are always educational for me since I have never seen nor heard one.
We watched that very educational PBS Nova show last night about eagles. I don’t think it is new, but we had never watched it before. Outstanding.
How’s the back?
Thank you, Everett. It’s a problem.
You need an assistant to carry your gear – load the truck – unload – etc If I lived up there I would assist you and learn more about photography as a side
Pretty little bird with an interesting vocabulary! 🙂 The perch IS perfect. 😉
Sounds like you may have been/are under the weather a bit – hope it’s temporary!
Thanks, Judy. I hope so too.
Great shot Ron. I hope your feeling OK today!
Thanks. I appreciate your concern.
That is a handsome bird. And what near perfect staging. I imagine that if one were to look up Chukar in a field guide or encyclopedia that this is the image that would be there. It’s really a classic. Thanks for sharing.
Michael, a friend on FB made this comment on this post about Chukars in general. “If it didn’t already exist in nature, I don’t think anyone is creative enough to come up with a bird looking and sounding like a Chukar.” I think she’s right.