The exotic chukar is native to Asia and eastern Europe from Israel to Nepal, but was introduced in Hawaiʻi in 1923 as a game bird. About 14 inches long, they have a gray-brown back with sides striped in black and white feathers. Their face is white with a black band across the eyes down to the neck. Listen for their morning “cuck-chuck-chuck” call in dry, rocky, open areas, often at higher elevations.

The map below shows hotspots along our birding trails where you might see this bird.