General Description: Chukar (Alectoris chukar) are gray-brown ground birds (pheasants) that would rather run than fly. Chukar have a white face outlined in black and several vertical, black and white bars on the sides. The bill and eyering are red.

Favored Habitat: Desert scrub, brushy areas.

Where to Find: Chukar are easy to hear and see at a distance (ask hunters!), but they are hard to see up close. However, they become habituated to humans and are fairly easy to see in picnic areas at Red Rock Canyon NCA. Check the Willow Springs and Calico Basin picnic areas.

Comments: Chukar are old-world pheasants widely introduced throughout the western desert for hunting.