Francolin
Encyclopedia
Francolins are bird
s that traditionally have been placed in the genus
Francolinus, but now commonly are divided into multiple genera (see Taxonomy), although some of the major taxonomic listing sources have yet to divide them. They are members of the pheasant family, Phasianidae
. When all are maintained in a single genus, it is the most diverse of the Galliformes
, having by far the most members. Francolins are terrestrial
(though not flightless) birds of that feed on insects, vegetable matter and seed
s. Most of the members have a hooked upper beak, tails with fourteen feathers and in many of them the male has spur
s on the tarsi
. Of the approximately 40 extant species, 5 are restricted to Asia
, while the remaining are restricted to Africa
.
are found in the subcontinental region of southern Africa; of these, seven occur in varying proportions within the political boundaries of Namibia
. Six southern African francolins are considered endemic to the subcontinent, of which three are found in Namibia (Hartlaub's
, Red-billed Francolin
F. adspersus and Orange River Francolin
F. levaillantoides ). The Cape Francolin
Francolinus capensis, endemic to the Cape Province
of South Africa
occurs marginally in southern Namibia. A fossil francolin, Francolinus capeki, has been described from Late Pliocene deposits of Hungary
; the contemporary fossil galliforms "Francolinus" minor and "F." subfrancolinus are now placed in Palaeocryptonyx.
Francolinus. In 1992 it was suggested that this treatment was problematic, and the francolins should be split into four genera: Francolinus for the Asian species, and the African species divided into Peliperdix, Scleroptila and Pternistis. The Crested Francolin
and Nahan's Francolin
were considered possibly quite distinct, but still maintained in Peliperdix and Pternistis respectively. Based on further evidence, the Crested Francolin was moved to the monotypic
genus Dendroperdix in 1998, and the Nahan's Francolin was moved to Ptilopachus
in 2006. Though some still maintain all these in Francolinus, the split into multiple genera is becoming more widespread. When split, the English name "francolin" is generally restricted to the members of the genera Francolinus, Peliperdix, Dendroperdix and Scleroptila, while the name "spurfowl" is used for Pternistis ("spurfowl" is also used for Galloperdix of the Indian subcontinent
). As the Nahan's "Francolin" is related to the Stone Partridge
rather than the true francolins and spurfowl, its name is sometimes modified to Nahan's Partridge.
In addition to the major changes proposed at genus level, the species level taxonomy
among several francolins/spurfowl is disputed. For example, the distribution of the Orange River Francolin
(F. (S.) levaillantoides) is highly disjunct
, leading some authorities to split the northern taxa (from Kenya
and northwards) into a separate species, the Acacia/Archer's Francolin (F. (S.) gutturalis, with subspecies lorti), while maintaining the southern taxa (from Angola
and southwards) in the Orange River Francolin. Most authorities treat the Elgon Francolin (F. (S.) psilolaema elgonensis) as a subspecies of the Moorland Francolin
, but others have suggested it is a species (F. (S.) elgonensis), a subspecies of the Shelley's Francolin
, or even a hybrid between the Moorland and Red-winged Francolin
s.
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s that traditionally have been placed in the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Francolinus, but now commonly are divided into multiple genera (see Taxonomy), although some of the major taxonomic listing sources have yet to divide them. They are members of the pheasant family, Phasianidae
Phasianidae
The Phasianidae is a family of birds which consists of the pheasants and partridges, including the junglefowl , Old World Quail, francolins, monals and peafowl. The family is a large one, and is occasionally broken up into two subfamilies, the Phasianinae, and the Perdicinae...
. When all are maintained in a single genus, it is the most diverse of the Galliformes
Galliformes
Galliformes are an order of heavy-bodied ground-feeding domestic or game bird, containing turkey, grouse, chicken, New and Old World Quail, ptarmigan, partridge, pheasant, and the Cracidae. Common names are gamefowl or gamebirds, landfowl, gallinaceous birds or galliforms...
, having by far the most members. Francolins are terrestrial
Terrestrial animal
Terrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land , as compared with aquatic animals, which live predominantly or entirely in the water , or amphibians, which rely on a combination of aquatic and terrestrial habitats...
(though not flightless) birds of that feed on insects, vegetable matter and seed
Seed
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...
s. Most of the members have a hooked upper beak, tails with fourteen feathers and in many of them the male has spur
Spur
A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of riding boots for the purpose of directing a horse to move forward or laterally while riding. It is usually used to refine the riding aids and to back up the natural aids . The spur is used in every equestrian discipline...
s on the tarsi
Tarsometatarsus
The tarsometatarsus is a bone that is found in the lower leg of certain tetrapods, namely birds.It is formed from the fusion of several bones found in other types of animals, and homologous to the mammalian tarsal and metatarsal bones...
. Of the approximately 40 extant species, 5 are restricted to Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, while the remaining are restricted to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
.
Distribution
Twelve of the species which occur in AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
are found in the subcontinental region of southern Africa; of these, seven occur in varying proportions within the political boundaries of Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
. Six southern African francolins are considered endemic to the subcontinent, of which three are found in Namibia (Hartlaub's
Hartlaub's Francolin
The Hartlaub's Spurfowl, or Hartlaub's Francolin, Pternistis hartlaubi is an endemic bird species of the escarpment zone of Namibia and Angola. Its name commemorates the German zoologist Gustav Hartlaub.-Appearance:...
, Red-billed Francolin
Red-billed Francolin
The Red-billed Spurfowl , also known as the Red-billed Francolin, is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:...
F. adspersus and Orange River Francolin
Orange River Francolin
The Orange River Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family found in grassland and woodland in Africa. In the taxa from the northern part of its distribution , the neck-line does not reach the eye and the belly is whitish...
F. levaillantoides ). The Cape Francolin
Cape Francolin
The Cape Spurfowl, or Cape Francolin, Pternistis capensis is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae. This francolin is endemic to the southwestern Cape of South Africa....
Francolinus capensis, endemic to the Cape Province
Cape Province
The Province of the Cape of Good Hope was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequently the Republic of South Africa...
of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
occurs marginally in southern Namibia. A fossil francolin, Francolinus capeki, has been described from Late Pliocene deposits of Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
; the contemporary fossil galliforms "Francolinus" minor and "F." subfrancolinus are now placed in Palaeocryptonyx.
Taxonomy
Until the early 1990s, major authorities placed all francolins in the genusGenus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Francolinus. In 1992 it was suggested that this treatment was problematic, and the francolins should be split into four genera: Francolinus for the Asian species, and the African species divided into Peliperdix, Scleroptila and Pternistis. The Crested Francolin
Crested Francolin
The Crested Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe...
and Nahan's Francolin
Nahan's Francolin
The Nahan's Partridge , also known as the Nahan's Francolin, is a bird in the Phasianidae family. This endangered species is found in rainforest in northeastern DR Congo and western Uganda, and it is threatened by habitat loss and hunting...
were considered possibly quite distinct, but still maintained in Peliperdix and Pternistis respectively. Based on further evidence, the Crested Francolin was moved to the monotypic
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
genus Dendroperdix in 1998, and the Nahan's Francolin was moved to Ptilopachus
Ptilopachus
Ptilopachus is an African genus of birds in the pheasant family. As traditionally defined, only the Stone Partridge was included in this genus, but based on genetic evidence it now also includes the Nahan's Partridge...
in 2006. Though some still maintain all these in Francolinus, the split into multiple genera is becoming more widespread. When split, the English name "francolin" is generally restricted to the members of the genera Francolinus, Peliperdix, Dendroperdix and Scleroptila, while the name "spurfowl" is used for Pternistis ("spurfowl" is also used for Galloperdix of the Indian subcontinent
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends...
). As the Nahan's "Francolin" is related to the Stone Partridge
Stone Partridge
The Stone Partridge, Ptilopachus petrosus, is a bird of the pheasant family. This largely brown bird, which commonly holds its tail raised, is found in scrubland and lightly wooded habitats, often near rocks, from Kenya and Ethiopia to Gambia...
rather than the true francolins and spurfowl, its name is sometimes modified to Nahan's Partridge.
In addition to the major changes proposed at genus level, the species level taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
among several francolins/spurfowl is disputed. For example, the distribution of the Orange River Francolin
Orange River Francolin
The Orange River Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family found in grassland and woodland in Africa. In the taxa from the northern part of its distribution , the neck-line does not reach the eye and the belly is whitish...
(F. (S.) levaillantoides) is highly disjunct
Disjunct distribution
In biology, a taxon with a disjunct distribution is one that has two or more groups that are related but widely separated from each other geographically...
, leading some authorities to split the northern taxa (from Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and northwards) into a separate species, the Acacia/Archer's Francolin (F. (S.) gutturalis, with subspecies lorti), while maintaining the southern taxa (from Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
and southwards) in the Orange River Francolin. Most authorities treat the Elgon Francolin (F. (S.) psilolaema elgonensis) as a subspecies of the Moorland Francolin
Moorland Francolin
The Moorland Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.-Distribution:It is found in moorland in the highlands of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda.-Taxonomy:...
, but others have suggested it is a species (F. (S.) elgonensis), a subspecies of the Shelley's Francolin
Shelley's Francolin
Shelley's Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family. The species is named after Sir Edward Shelley, cousin of George Ernest Shelley.-Distribution and habitat:...
, or even a hybrid between the Moorland and Red-winged Francolin
Red-winged Francolin
The Red-winged Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family. It is found in Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.Elgon Francolin may be a hybrid between the Red-winged Francolin and...
s.
Species
- Francolinus (sensu stricto):
- Black FrancolinBlack FrancolinThe Black Francolin, Francolinus francolinus, is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. It was formerly known as the Black Partridge.-Identification:...
, Francolinus francolinus - Painted FrancolinPainted FrancolinThe Painted Francolin or Painted Partridge is a species of Francolin found in grassy areas in central and southern India and in the lowlands of southeastern Sri Lanka. They are easily detected by their loud calls especially during the breeding season. Thomas C...
, Francolinus pictus - Chinese FrancolinChinese FrancolinThe Chinese Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.It is found in Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam....
, Francolinus pintadeanus - Grey FrancolinGrey FrancolinThe Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus is a species of francolin found in the plains and drier parts of South Asia...
, Francolinus pondicerianus - Swamp FrancolinSwamp FrancolinThe Swamp Partridge or Swamp Francolin is a species of partridge found in parts of India, Nepal and Bangladesh mostly in the Ganges and Brahmaputra valleys.-Description:From Frank Finn's The Game Birds of India & Asia :...
, Francolinus gularis
- Black Francolin
- Peliperdix:
- Coqui FrancolinCoqui FrancolinThe Coqui Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania,...
, Peliperdix coqui - White-throated FrancolinWhite-throated FrancolinThe White-throated Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, and Zambia.These birds are found in tropical & sub-tropical...
, Peliperdix albogularis - Schlegel's FrancolinSchlegel's FrancolinThe Schlegel's Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, and Sudan.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 10 July 2007....
, Peliperdix schlegelii - Latham's Francolin, Peliperdix lathami
- Coqui Francolin
- Dendroperdix:
- Crested FrancolinCrested FrancolinThe Crested Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe...
, Dendroperdix sephaena
- Crested Francolin
- Scleroptila:
- Ring-necked FrancolinRing-necked FrancolinThe Ring-necked Francolin is a bird species in the family Phasianidae. It is found in Burundi, Cameroon, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda...
, Scleroptila streptophorus - Finsch's FrancolinFinsch's FrancolinThe Finsch's Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.It is found in Angola, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Gabon.-References:...
, Scleroptila finschi - Red-winged FrancolinRed-winged FrancolinThe Red-winged Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family. It is found in Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.Elgon Francolin may be a hybrid between the Red-winged Francolin and...
, Scleroptila levaillantii - Grey-winged FrancolinGrey-winged FrancolinThe Grey-winged Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.It is found in Lesotho and South Africa.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 10 July 2007....
, Scleroptila africanus - Moorland FrancolinMoorland FrancolinThe Moorland Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.-Distribution:It is found in moorland in the highlands of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda.-Taxonomy:...
, Scleroptila psilolaemus - Shelley's FrancolinShelley's FrancolinShelley's Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family. The species is named after Sir Edward Shelley, cousin of George Ernest Shelley.-Distribution and habitat:...
, Scleroptila shelleyi - Orange River FrancolinOrange River FrancolinThe Orange River Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family found in grassland and woodland in Africa. In the taxa from the northern part of its distribution , the neck-line does not reach the eye and the belly is whitish...
, Scleroptila levaillantoides
- Ring-necked Francolin
- Pternistis ("Spurfowl"):
- Scaly FrancolinScaly FrancolinThe Scaly Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.It is found in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sudan,...
, Pternistis squamatus - Ahanta FrancolinAhanta FrancolinThe Ahanta Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.It is found in Benin, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo....
, Pternistis ahantensis - Grey-striped FrancolinGrey-striped FrancolinThe Grey-striped Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.It is found only in Angola.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland.It is threatened by habitat...
, Pternistis griseostriatus - Hartlaub's FrancolinHartlaub's FrancolinThe Hartlaub's Spurfowl, or Hartlaub's Francolin, Pternistis hartlaubi is an endemic bird species of the escarpment zone of Namibia and Angola. Its name commemorates the German zoologist Gustav Hartlaub.-Appearance:...
, Pternistis hartlaubi - Double-spurred FrancolinDouble-spurred FrancolinThe Double-spurred Francolin, Pternistis bicalcaratus, is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds....
, Pternistis bicalcaratus - Heuglin's FrancolinHeuglin's FrancolinThe Heuglin's Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.It is found in Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and Uganda.-References:...
, Pternistis icterorhynchus - Clapperton's FrancolinClapperton's FrancolinThe Clapperton's Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, and Uganda.-References:...
, Pternistis clappertoni - Harwood's FrancolinHarwood's FrancolinThe Harwood's Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family. It is a grey-brown bird with red bill and tail, and red bare skin around the eyes...
, Pternistis harwoodi - Hildebrandt's FrancolinHildebrandt's FrancolinThe Hildebrandt's Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.It is found in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia. The species is named for Johannes Hildebrandt, who collected the first specimens in Kenya.-References:*...
, Pternistis hildebrandti - Jackson's FrancolinJackson's FrancolinThe Jackson's Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.It is found in Kenya and Uganda.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 10 July 2007.-External links:*...
, Pternistis jacksoni - Handsome FrancolinHandsome FrancolinThe Handsome Francolin, Pternistis nobilis is a large, up to 35 cm long, terrestrial forest francolin with a dark reddish brown plumage, grey head, red bill and legs, brown iris, bare red orbital skin and rufous grey below. Both sexes are similar. The female is slightly smaller than male...
, Pternistis nobilis - Mount Cameroon FrancolinMount Cameroon FrancolinThe Mount Cameroon Francolin is a bird species in the family Phasianidae. It is found only in Cameroon.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
, Pternistis camerunensis - Swierstra's FrancolinSwierstra's FrancolinThe Swierstra's Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.It is found only in Angola.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
, Pternistis swierstrai - Chestnut-naped FrancolinChestnut-naped FrancolinThe Chestnut-naped Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family. At and , it is a large species of francolin.It is found in Ethiopia, Somalia, and possibly Kenya.-References:...
, Pternistis castaneicollis - Erckel's FrancolinErckel's FrancolinThe Erckel's Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.It is native to Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Sudan. In 1957 the species was also introduced to the Hawaiian islands.-References:...
, Pternistis erckelii - Djibouti FrancolinDjibouti FrancolinThe Djibouti Francolin, Pternistis ochropectus, is one of over forty species of francolins, a group of birds in the Phasianidae family. It is critically endangered and found only in Djibouti, a nation in eastern Africa. This species is grayish-brown overall with white stripes and streaks on its...
, Pternistis ochropectus - Red-billed Spurfowl, Pternistis adspersus
- Cape Spurfowl, Pternistis capensis
- Natal Spurfowl, Pternistis natalensis
- Yellow-necked SpurfowlYellow-necked SpurfowlThe Yellow-necked Spurfowl or Yellow-necked Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family. It is found in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.-References:...
, Pternistis leucoscepus - Grey-breasted SpurfowlGrey-breasted SpurfowlThe Grey-breasted Spurfowl or Grey-breasted Francolin, is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.It is found only in Tanzania.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 10 July 2007....
, Pternistis rufopictus - Red-necked Spurfowl, Pternistis afer
- Swainson's Spurfowl, Pternistis swainsonii
- Scaly Francolin
External links
- Francolin videos on the Internet Bird Collection