Pearl gray flank feathers
Two distinct bands on breast feathers (white and dark gray or black)
Gray-brown rump feathers suitable for hackle on small, natural-colored streamers
Chukar skins yield flank feathers for various applications, including cheeks on salmon flies and larger soft hackle wet flies
Substituting Chukar for Partridge provides a different, unique look to fly patterns, especially in traditional dry fly patterns with wing burners.
The chukar partridge, also known simply as chukar or French Partridge is a Palearctic upland gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae. It is part of a superspecies complex with the rock partridge, Philby’s partridge, and Przevalski’s partridge. Native to Asia, it has been introduced in various places, forming feral populations in North America and New Zealand. Additionally, it can be found in parts of the Middle East and temperate Asia.
Physical characteristics:
Length: 32–35 cm (13–14 in)
Light brown back, grey breast, and buff belly
Black and white bars on flanks
Black band from forehead across the eye, forming a necklace around a white throat
Rufous-streaked flanks, red legs, and coral red bill
Both sexes are similar, with the female slightly smaller and lacking a spur
Distinctive features:
Tail with 14 feathers, third primary being the longest
Gorget on the face distinguishes it from similar species
Song: Noisy chuck-chuck-chukar-chukar
Common names: chukker, Indian chukar, keklik
Chukar feathers:
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