Normally I try to avoid publishing photos of the same species in back-to-back posts but I’ll make an exception for a Chukar fight.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Three days ago I was driving along the base of a very steep hill when I heard Chukars calling excitedly somewhere on the side of the same hill. From the sound of their calls I could tell there was tension amongst the Chukars so I spent the next ten minutes or so driving back and forth very slowly along the base of the hill in an attempt to locate them. In all that time I only got glimpses of two of them through the bushes on the hillside.
But finally they came out into the relative open where I could see them, briefly. Here a lone male is pursuing an obviously mated pair, out of frame to the right. During breeding season male Chukars, rather than defending breeding territory, tend to repel other males from the vicinity of their mates. The male in this photo was pursuing the already bonded female so I figured a fight might soon result.
I was right.
1/1600, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Here we see the pursuing male on the left and the mated pair on the right. The female is about to disappear at upper right while her mate is following her, with his eye on the pursuing male. I suspect the mated male intended to just follow his mate into the bushes but the pursuing male didn’t give him that chance.
1/1600, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Instead he lunged forward and attacked the mated male. Here his bill is buried in the feathers of the mated male’s upper back.
1/1600, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
They duked it out for a second or two before…
1/1250, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
they both leaped into the air while still facing each other. Kung fu Chukars.
The fight was over almost as quickly as it began. After this shot was taken they stared at each other for a couple of seconds before the mated male followed his mate and disappeared in the bushes. But the pursuing male hadn’t given up so he followed them into the bushes. I never saw any of them again, although I continued to hear their excited calling.
These aren’t great photos but I’ve only photographed fighting Chukars once before so I decided to post them anyway. I love documenting bird behaviors, including fights, and I’ve learned to give those types of photos a little more wiggle room when it comes to image quality.
Ron
Loved this. So interesting to see this behaviour.Great documentation, professor.
Thank you, Arwen.
Wonderful action captures! I loved the Kung fu Chukars!!!
Good. Thanks, Steve.
Imagine two T.Rex going at it.
Great action capture. I like the title Kung Fu Chukars but now I have a tune stuck in my head. In the song lyrics I changed China men to chukars and funky Chinatown to faraway Box Elder town.
Everybody was Kung Fu fighting
Those birds were fast as lightning
In fact, it was a little bit frightening
But they fought with expert timing
You’re a lyricist, April!
Plagiarist more likely!
Good morning Ron! I am happy to know that you can still go out to get & post your wonderful shots that so many of us enjoy even the photo thieves, that doesn’t make me happy though. I am glad the Chukar fight ended the way it did. Last Sunday a Canada Goose was killed by another so not so lucky for that one. I know it is part of nature I guess but I wished I could have done something but it was out in the river.
Sorry to hear about that goose, Shirley. I hope you didn’t see it happen.
The headline sounds comical – The Fighting Chukars. Very interesting and informative. Following our eagles here in Prescott I have twice witnessed a new larger stronger male come into the area and beat up the reigning male and replace him. This happens throughout the animal and bird world and makes you think that long ago prior to we humans become so civilized, we too would have experienced a larger stronger male knocking us off and taking our mate.
Thanks, Everett. I know how closely you follow your eagles.
Fun! 🙂 Appears they were REALLY having at it! I wonder if they are capable of doing serious damage or just nasty pinches?
I don’t know, Judy. But I wouldn’t be surprised if fighting Chukars are occasionally injured.
“Bird Geek” humor– who knew ?
I did… 🙂
Nice shots and Great documentation. Kung Fu Chukars for sure! I think the photos could be the movie poster.
“I think the photos could be the movie poster.”
Gotta come up with the movie first. Given your background that would be your job, Brett. 🙂
It should have been the title. Made me chuckle.
Geez, did I just chuckle over Chukars?
Even that attacking Chukar in the third photo has a bit of a martial arts pose to it with it’s feet in such a dynamic lunge position.
You captured some great action there.
Thanks, Michael. Sometimes Chukars deserve to be chuckled at. Maybe someday I’ll photograph a Chukar perched on a chuckwagon. Then you can really chuckle!
Kung fu Chukars is the perfect caption for that photo!
Thanks, MJ. I almost made it my title.