More info for the terms:
forb,
shrubDuring the breeding season, chukars feed in pairs. For the rest of the
year feeding occurs in coveys, usually en route to watering areas [
3].
Coveys are usually about 20 birds; infrequently as many as 40 or more
birds will form a covey [
8]. Foraging occurs in early morning and late
afternoon [
9].
In summer and fall the bulk of chukar diets is composed of cheatgrass
seeds [
4,
15]. Seeds of Russian-thistle (Salsola spp.), rough fiddleneck
(Amsinckia retrorsa), cutleaf filaree (Erodium cicutarium), Indian
ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides), curly dock (Rumex crispus), wild onion
(Allium spp.) and mustards (Brassica spp.) are also consumed [
4,
7].
After autumn rains cause grasses to green up, chukars consume large
amounts of grass blades and basal shoots [
3,
24]; and the bulbs, stems,
leaves, and buds of a variety of plants including dandelion (Taraxacum
officinale), woodlandstar (Lithophragma spp.), and shepherd's purse
(Capsella bursa-pastoris) [
4,
8]. Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) and
hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) fruits are consumed during summer. A variety
of forb and shrub seeds or fruits are consumed during the winter [
7].
Additional items reported for chukar diets in New Mexico include early
spring greens, alfalfa (Medicago spp.) leaves, seeds of Johnsongrass
(Sorghum halepense), grama (Bouteloua spp.), and other mountain grasses,
and skunkbush sumac (Rhus trilobata) fruits [
3]. Chukars do not utilize
legume seeds to any great degree, but do consume leaves of alfalfa,
clover (Trifolium spp.), and sweetclover (Melilotus spp.) [
7]. The diet
of young chukars includes a high proportion of insects; adult birds may
consume as much as 15 percent by volume. Animal foods consist primarily
of grasshoppers, caterpillars, crickets, ants, and various insect eggs
[
3,
8,
9].