Pakistan's national bird is the Chukar partridge, known scientifically as Alectoris chukar. In Urdu, it is called چکور (romanized as "Chakor"). That's the short answer, and it's confirmed by the Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH), which is the national institution most commonly cited as the authoritative source for Pakistan's official national symbols.
If you've seen conflicting answers online, you're not alone. Some sites list the Shaheen falcon as Pakistan's national bird, but that's a mix-up. The Shaheen is a widely recognized cultural symbol in Pakistan, but the designated national bird is the Chukar partridge. More on that confusion in a moment.
The bird goes by a few names depending on where you look, so here's a clean breakdown:
| Language / Format | Name |
|---|---|
| English (common name) | Chukar partridge |
| English (short form) | Chukar |
| Urdu (script) | چکور |
| Roman Urdu | Chakor (also seen as Chakoor or Chakar) |
| Scientific name | Alectoris chukar |
"Chukar" and "Chakor" refer to exactly the same species. The spelling difference is simply a matter of transliteration from Urdu script into the Roman alphabet. If a source uses "Chakor," it is talking about the same bird as one that says "Chukar partridge." The scientific name Alectoris chukar is the single clearest identifier across all languages.
A national bird is an officially designated emblem, chosen to represent a country's identity, natural heritage, or cultural values. It sits alongside other national symbols like the national flower, national tree, and national animal. In Pakistan's case, the national animal is the Markhor (a wild mountain goat), which is sometimes confused with the national bird in quiz-style questions. If someone asks about the "national animal and bird of Pakistan," the answer is: the Markhor for the animal, and the Chukar partridge for the bird. They are two separate designations.
It's worth noting that the "national bird" designation in Pakistan is more of a symbolic and cultural emblem than a strict legal classification. It was recognized and documented by institutions like the PMNH as part of a set of national identity markers. Unlike a law passed by parliament, you won't find a single gazette notification that enshrined the Chukar as the official bird. What you will find is consistent recognition by national-level institutions, which carries real weight.
The Chukar partridge's designation as a national symbol is commonly traced back to around 1985, the year most secondary sources cite as when the recognition became widely documented. The bird wasn't chosen randomly. It's a species native to Pakistan's landscape and deeply woven into the country's culture, poetry, and rural traditions.
The Chukar is well-adapted to Pakistan's rocky, dry upland terrain, particularly the mountainous and scrubby hillside environments found across the country's northern and western regions. It's the kind of bird that locals have lived alongside for generations, which gives it a sense of authenticity as a national symbol. A national bird that actually lives in the country, rather than one chosen for purely aesthetic reasons, tends to carry more meaning.
If you want a deeper look at the reasoning behind the choice, the article on why Chakor is the national bird of Pakistan goes into the cultural and historical context in much more detail. It's worth reading if you want the full story beyond just the name.
The Chukar partridge has a range that stretches across a wide swath of Eurasia, from southern Europe through Central Asia and into the Indian subcontinent. Within this range, Pakistan sits near the heart of the bird's native habitat. It favors rocky hillsides, dry grasslands, and scrub terrain, which matches much of Pakistan's natural geography perfectly.
Culturally, the Chakor holds a special place in South Asian literature and poetry. In Urdu and Punjabi verse, the Chakor is often used as a metaphor for longing and devotion. The bird is traditionally described as being so captivated by the moon that it stares at it all night, unable to look away. This image of unrequited love and yearning appears frequently in classical poetry, making the Chakor far more than just a game bird in the popular imagination.
This poetic tradition is shared across South Asia. Pakistan's neighbors have their own deeply symbolic national birds too. For example, India's national bird is the Indian peacock, which carries its own rich mythology and symbolism, and Bangladesh's national bird is the Oriental magpie-robin, chosen for its widespread presence and melodic song. Each choice reflects what a country values about its natural and cultural identity.
The Chakor is also a popular subject for artists and illustrators, especially in educational contexts. If you're looking to sketch it, the guides on how to draw a national bird can give you a useful starting framework, and there's also a specific guide on how to draw Nepal's national bird that demonstrates the level of detail involved in illustrating South Asian birds more broadly.
The Shaheen falcon (Falco peregrinus peregrinator) shows up in a lot of places associated with Pakistan: it's referenced in the national anthem, used in institutional logos, and carries powerful symbolism as a bird of speed, courage, and strength. That's why so many websites incorrectly list it as the national bird.
But symbolic use across culture and branding is not the same as being the designated national bird. Pakistan has multiple national symbols across different categories, and a bird can be culturally iconic without holding the specific "national bird" title. The Chukar partridge holds that designation. The Shaheen is a cultural icon. Both are significant, but they're not the same thing.
When you find conflicting answers online, the fastest way to settle it is to go to a national-level institution. For Pakistan's national bird, that means checking the Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH). The PMNH explicitly names the Chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar) as Pakistan's national bird on its official page. That's your primary cross-check.
This approach works for any national bird claim, not just Pakistan's. Matching the common name to the scientific name and verifying against a national institution is always the most reliable method. Other South Asian countries follow similar patterns. For instance, Jammu and Kashmir's state bird and West Bengal's state bird have both been subject to online confusion that clears up quickly once you check against an official state or institutional source.
One more useful habit: if you're using this for schoolwork or a project, note that some educational drawing guides (like the one on how to draw India's national bird) often reference the official name and classification as part of the activity, which is another indirect way to cross-check a bird's status while doing something creative.
Pakistan's national bird is the Chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar), called Chakor (چکور) in Urdu. It was recognized as the national bird around 1985 and is documented by the Pakistan Museum of Natural History. It's a bird native to Pakistan's mountain and upland terrain, carrying centuries of cultural meaning in South Asian poetry and folklore. If you see a different answer elsewhere, verify it against the PMNH or a scientific ornithology source that names the species Alectoris chukar. That combination of official institution plus scientific name is your most reliable confirmation.
Both refer to the same species. Chukar is the Roman spelling, Chakor is a transliteration commonly tied to Urdu (چکور). If you need to be precise for school or a quiz, use the scientific name Alectoris chukar to avoid spelling differences.
The Shaheen falcon is a major cultural and branding symbol (including in anthem references and logos), but that kind of prominence does not automatically mean it has the specific national-bird designation. Confusions often happen when “national symbol” language is used loosely online.
The designation is commonly documented through national-level institutions rather than described as a single law passed by parliament. If you are writing a formal report, you can still cite the Pakistan Museum of Natural History and treat it as the authoritative identification for the emblem.
Urdu spellings can help, since چکور (Chakor) points to the same species, but Urdu-only confirmation can still be risky if a source uses a different bird name in Urdu. The safest approach is matching the Urdu/Roman name to Alectoris chukar.
Pakistan’s national bird is the Chukar partridge, while the national animal is the Markhor (a wild mountain goat). Many quiz questions mix them up, so keep the category straight if you are answering exam-style prompts.
It is mainly associated with rocky, dry upland and mountainous scrub habitats, especially in northern and western areas. If your project requires habitat details, describe it as an upland bird rather than a species tied to one single city or province.
Usually not. Scientific names are the most stable identifier across languages. If the scientific name does not match Alectoris chukar, treat it as a different species or an error, even if the common name looks similar.
Use a two-step check: (1) confirm the common name mapping (Chukar/Chakor), then (2) verify the scientific name is Alectoris chukar and that a national-level institution, such as the Pakistan Museum of Natural History, supports the designation. This combination reduces the most common online misinformation.
India’s national bird is the Indian peafowl, chosen for cultural symbolism and official national designation, not state
