![\"chukar](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/chukar-5902-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n1\/2000, f\/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, 500 f\/4 II, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Two days ago I was trying to approach (in my pickup) a Red-winged Blackbird perched on top of a large rock on Antelope Island when this Chukar deliberately displaced it by landing on top of the rock and forcing the blackbird to fly off.\u00a0 Bye-bye blackbird but now I had a Chukar to work with.\u00a0 The early morning light was perfect, I liked the background and the bird was cooperative – what more<\/em> could I ask for?\u00a0 How about two Chukars at the same time?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/2500, f\/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, 500 f\/4 II, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0A few minutes later another Chukar landed on the rock\u00a0to the left and above the first one (the other bird is just out of frame to the right and below this bird).\u00a0 Soon the second\u00a0Chukar began to preen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/2000, f\/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, 500 f\/4 II, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n These relatively short-necked and fat-bodied birds\u00a0have to struggle to reach the rear of their bodies while preening.\u00a0 Behind the leg isn’t too difficult to reach but…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/2000, f\/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, 500 f\/4 II, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n getting to the uropygial (preen) gland is another story altogether – they can barely reach it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/2000, f\/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, 500 f\/4 II, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Here the bird is rubbing the side of its head over the gland and its immediate vicinity in order to get the\u00a0gland secretion on its face and upper neck\u00a0(areas it cannot reach with its beak).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/500, f\/13, ISO 500, Canon 7D, 500 f\/4 II, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Soon the first Chukar moved up and to my left to join the second bird.\u00a0 Chukars form pair bonds in my area this time of year and I believe this to be a mated pair with the smaller and shorter female on the left (the sexes are similar otherwise).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n