Bird field guide · Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies

Photographing the Chukar

How to photograph the Chukar (Alectoris chukar): the right lens for its size, shutter speeds for perched and moving animals, and when it's most often seen (April, May and June).

30–110 cm1/2000 s
Chukar (Alectoris chukar)
Photo: © Dr. Nasser Halaweh, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Dr. Nasser Halaweh via iNaturalist
30–110 cm
Typical length (family range)
1/500 s
Shutter: perched / still
1/2000 s
Shutter: action / flight
f/5.6–f/8
Aperture
ModeManual + Auto ISOLock shutter & aperture, let ISO float
Shutter (still)1/500 s
Shutter (action)1/2000 s
Aperturef/5.6–f/8
FocusAF-C + subject/eye detectionShoot from ground level; game birds flush suddenly, so keep the shutter fast and AF in continuous mode.
DriveHigh-speed burst
Lens100–400 mmFull-frame equivalent

Focal length needed to frame it#

For a subject about 70 cm long filling a third or half of the frame width horizontally.

Distance⅓ of frame (FF)½ of frame (FF)⅓ of frame (APS-C)⅓ of frame (MFT)
5 m (16 ft)83 mm125 mm56 mm42 mm
10 m (33 ft)167 mm251 mm111 mm83 mm
15 m (49 ft)250 mm376 mm167 mm125 mm
20 m (66 ft)334 mm501 mm223 mm167 mm
30 m (98 ft)501 mm752 mm334 mm250 mm
50 m (164 ft)834 mm1,253 mm556 mm417 mm

When to find it#

Jan: 4% Jan Feb: 4% Feb Mar: 11% Mar Apr: 15% Apr May: 16% May Jun: 12% Jun Jul: 10% Jul Aug: 9% Aug Sep: 8% Sep Oct: 6% Oct Nov: 4% Nov Dec: 2% Dec
Share of iNaturalist observations by month across North America. Peak months: April, May and June.

About the Chukar#

The chukar partridge or chukar (Alectoris chukar) is a Eurasian upland gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae. It has been considered to form a superspecies complex along with the rock partridge, Philby's partridge and Przevalski's partridge and treated in the past as conspecific particularly with the first. This partridge has well marked black and white bars on the flanks and a black band running from the forehead across the eye and running down the head to...

Summary adapted from Wikipedia via iNaturalist (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Field-craft tips#

  • Lek displays at dawn (spring) — use a blind and arrive before light.
  • Shoot from ground level; game birds flush suddenly, so keep the shutter fast and AF in continuous mode.
  • Sightings peak in April, May and June, which is when you'll have the most chances.

Ethics#

  • The welfare of the animal comes first: if it changes its behaviour because of you, you are too close.
  • Stay on trails, respect closures around nests, leks, dens and haul-outs.
  • Avoid playback and baiting in sensitive seasons; never bait predators.
  • Don't share precise locations of rare, nesting or roosting animals publicly.

More Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies#

Wild Turkey Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavo Ruffed Grouse Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellus Ring-necked Pheasant Ring-necked PheasantPhasianus colchicus Indian Peafowl Indian PeafowlPavo cristatus Red Junglefowl Red JunglefowlGallus gallus Spruce Grouse Spruce GrouseCanachites canadensis Sooty GrouseDendragapus fuliginosus Dusky Grouse Dusky GrouseDendragapus obscurus

Frequently asked questions#

What lens do I need to photograph a Chukar?

At about 70 cm long, a chukar fills a third of a full-frame image at 10 m with roughly 167 mm, or at 20 m with 334 mm.

What shutter speed should I use for a Chukar?

1/500 s when it's still; 1/2000 s for action.

When is the best time to photograph a Chukar?

Observations in North America peak in April, May and June. Early morning and late afternoon give the best light and activity.

Sources & licences#

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources