Common Birds of Western Himalayas 



(Gaccabis chucar). In appearance this is very 

 like the French or red-legged partridge, to which 

 it is related. Its prevailing hue is pale reddish 

 brown, the particular shade varying greatly 

 with the individual. The most striking features 

 of this partridge are a black band that runs 

 across the forehead to the eyes and then down 

 the sides of the head round the throat, forming 

 a gorget, and a number of black bars on each 

 flank. The favourite haunts of the chakor are 

 bare grassy hillsides on which a few terraced 

 fields exist. Chakor are noisy birds. The note 

 most commonly heard is the double call from 

 which their name is taken. 



The black partridge or common francolin 

 (Francolinus vulgaris) is abundant on the lower 

 ranges of the Himalayas. At Mussoorie its 

 curious call is often heard. This is so high- 

 pitched as to be inaudible to some people. To 

 those who can hear it, the call sounds like juk- 

 juk-tee-tee-tur. This species has the habit of 

 feigning a broken wing when an enemy ap- 

 proaches its young ones. The cock is a very 

 handsome bird. The prevailing hue of his 

 plumage is black with white spots on the flanks 

 and narrow white bars on the back. The 



feathers of the crown and wings are buff and 

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