Page 420 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

GAMEBIRDS
Family Phasianidae Species Alectoris chukar Family Phasianidae Species Turnix sylvatica
Chukar Small Button-quail

A large, pale, rather plain partridge with bold flank This tiny bird is an enigma and may even be extinct
stripes, the Chukar is characterized by black on the in Europe, but is common in Africa. It may survive in
forehead but not beside the bill, a creamy throat dry, heathy places with palmetto scrub. If flushed, it
sometimes spotted at the base, and reveals a tiny, Quail-like form (see p.152) with obvious
a broad pale line behind the eye. broad white line pale upperwing patches. On the ground, its pale
Only when introduced birds are behind eye greyish face with no dark stripes would be distinctive.
encountered do these subtle The Small Button-quail calls at dusk and dawn.
points matter too much as distribution OCCURRENCE Very rare in S Spain;scarce in Morocco.
is usually sufficient to identify it. VOICE Deep, booming spots on orange
OCCURRENCE Common in Middle hoooo hoooo hoooo notes. breast
East; rare in NE Greece.
VOICE Loud, rhythmic, ADULT
hollow cha-cha-cha-chaker
chaker chaker.

bold stripes
on flanks

ADULT

Length 32–35cm (12 1 ⁄2 –14in) Wingspan 47–52cm (18 1 ⁄2 –20 1 ⁄2in) Length 15–17cm (6–6 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 25–30cm (10–12in)

Family Phasianidae Species Chrysolophus amherstiae Family Phasianidae Species Chrysolophus pictus
Lady Amherst’s Pheasant Golden Pheasant
This striking pheasant is very difficult to see in dense Introduced but not spreading far from old release sites,
undergrowth beneath dark conifer forest. Males are the Golden Pheasant is difficult to see, despite its bright
uniquely patterned black and white with yellow on colours. Males are strikingly red and yellow, with long,
the rump; they have long red feathers beside the marbled, golden-brown tails. Females, which are much
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extremely long tail. Females are dark rufous, closely smaller at 60–80cm (23 ⁄2–32in) long, are pale brown
barred black, with a paler, unbarred belly unlike the with black barring all over, and much less spotted
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Golden Pheasant; at 60–80cm (23 ⁄2–32in) long, they than a Pheasant (see p.153).
are much smaller than the males. OCCURRENCE Rare; very local in S Scotland and
OCCURRENCE Introduced but rare resident in S and E England.
C England. VOICE Loud, shrieking eh-aik.
VOICE Loud, strident aaahk-aik-aik at dusk.
MALE red and yellow
striking black and plumage
white plumage
very long long golden-
tail brown tail
long red
feathers

MALE

Length 1.05–1.2m (3 1 ⁄2 –4ft) Wingspan 70–85cm (28–34in) Length 90–105cm (35–41in) Wingspan 65–75cm (26–30in)
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