I’ve mentioned before how very reluctant Chukars are to fly. They much prefer to scurry away through the grasses whenever they feel insecure or threatened.
And that reluctance also applies when they’re ready to leave an elevated perch. They’ll nearly always find a way to scramble down a big rock rather than fly from it like most other birds would. That tendency was demonstrated to me twice yesterday morning on Antelope Island.
1/2500, f/5.6, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light
We found this bird warming its back in the warmth of the rising sun when we first came onto the island. It posed for a minute or so and then decided that it was time to join its comrades in the grasses below the rock.
1/2500, f/5.6, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light
Naturally it chose to slip-slide down the steep rock face rather than fly.
1/2500, f/5.6, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light
When it was reasonably close to the ground it looked for a suitable landing-place among the grasses…
1/2500, f/5.6, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light
and hopped down, disappearing into the grass.
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light
Two hours later (the light is cooler now) we found another cooperative Chukar. This one was facing me on a much larger rock than the previous bird. It posed on one leg for a while…
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light
but eventually turned and began looking for a safe way down off the rock. Once the first part of the route had been “planned”…
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light
it began to negotiate its descent.
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light
Then some more “planning” before…
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light
jumping down to the last rock.
I sometimes call these birds “rockhoppers” – for obvious reasons.
I was disappointed that I lost focus on the bird for several shots as it came down but I thought there were enough sharp ones in the sequence to illustrate the behavior.
Ron
They descend like I used on skis…scope the slope. pick a path and go for it. I couldn’t fly either, but when I skied it felt like it…beautiful, glamorous birds.
That is such a stylish bird. Our crested wood pigeons almost invariably choose to walk across the road rather than fly. And sometimes have to do a very fast scuttle to get out of the way on on-coming traffic. I have wondered whether it is energy conservation.
I, too, was reminded of how I feel when I’m walking around on rocks, and especially headed downhill. Their butts may be closer to the ground than ours, but at least we have the option to sit down and slide when it gets a bit steep. These are great photos. I wonder if they’d change their habit if they knew how undignified they look when they are doing this?
Wow what an awesome bird! Thanks for capturing its beauty and fascinating behavior!
Thank you, Nancy.
Chuckers are beautiful and fun to watch (thanks to your great pictures). I think that they look pretty sleek wearing those gorgeous colors and markings along with red lipstick, red eyeliner, and red boots! With all that going on, I suppose they are pretty darn noticable to predators. I’ll put it to the children at Kutz Elementary, maybe they’ll have some good guesses as to why their friend goes to all that trouble to get down from the rocks instead of just flying. Meanwhile, I wonder if you have ever caught one in flight with a camera?
Janice, add to those distinctive colors you mentioned, the yellow bottoms of their feet. Pretty neat birds.
No, I’ve never caught one in flight and don’t think I ever will. I seldom see them in flight and when I do it’s nothing I can plan or set up for. Besides, they’re always going away from me…
Tell those great Kutz Kids hello, from me and “Charlie the Chukar”!
Ron, great series and superb photographs!
I’ve always thought the quail (general species) prefers running to flying due to the reduced chance of being spotted by predators. Don’t know if that’s actually true and don’t know if that’s the Chukar’s reason. Maybe they just like sliding down the rocks!
You may be right, Wally. Makes me wonder though, why many other birds don’t do the same thing in a similar situation.
Amazing photos of a very lovely bird. I have never seen one and had no idea that their behavior was so atypical. Thanks Ron, for sharing your amazing talent and knowledge. You brighten my rainy day!
Charlotte Norton
They don’t fly very often, Charlotte but they’re fully capable of it and when they do those buzz-saw wings certainly get your attention. The only times I’ve seen them fly off a perch is when it’s too high and steep (a road sign, for example) for a safe jump off.
Many thanks for showing us this series Ron. Very interesting, I enjoyed the series very much.
Thank you, Dick.
Ron
Your photos remind me of the trepidation I have walking down a rocky slope.
Thanks for capturing the planning and execution down a difficult path.
Yes, I thought the same thing, Diana. At least their butt is closer to the ground than ours, should their feet go out from under them…