Hungarian Partridge

The chukar, an import from India, Asia and Africa, and the Hungarian partridge from Europe can be grouped together for this study.

Their markings and habits are somewhat similar and they are found generally in the northern prairie states and into Canada, having gained a foothold there after repeated failures in other parts of the Northern Hemisphere.

They are also found as artificial plantings on the many commercial shooting preserves particularly in the East and in California.

The chukar is a fast flying bird that quickly understands what the hunter is up to when shot over to any degree and so offers exciting work with gun and dog.

It is a short-tailed partridge of soft grey coloration marked with greyish-brown bars on the flanks. The feet and the bill are coral-red. It weighs a little more than the "Hun," from one to one and one-half pounds, while the "Hun" rarely weighs over a pound.

The "Hun" is more plump in shape, greyish over-all but with defined chestnut-colored bar markings on the flanks. Both are seed and grain eaters and seem to survive well on farms of the Middle West and lately in the more southern states.

From: A Sportman's Guide to Game Birds
by: Ray Ovington - Enjoy - Don Trosper.

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