Alternative name: Chestnut-naped Francolin
Includes Black-fronted Francolin/Black-fronted Spurfowl
- Pternistis castaneicollis
Identification
Length 33-37 cm; a large francolin
Key features are rusty colours on the head, neck, upper breast and wings; white belly and vent; and red bill and legs.
Distribution
Eastern Africa: Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya.
Taxonomy
Formerly placed in genus Francolinus.
Subspecies
There are 2 subspecies[1]:
- P. c. castaneicollis:
- P. c. atrifrons:
Subspecies atrifrons (Black-fronted Francolin) was formerly split as a full species but is now again included here.
Five other subspecies are not generally recognised[2].
Habitat
Montane heath, forest edges and scrub.
Behaviour
Usually seen in small groups or pairs.
Diet
They form feeding coveys; They pick seeds and insects off the ground.
Vocalisation
Calls mostly at dawn and dusk; kek kek keraak.
Gallery
Click on photo for larger image
Photo by Trevor Hardaker
Bale Mountains, Ethiopia, May 2009
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F, D Donsker, and P Rasmussen (Eds). 2023. IOC World Bird List (v 13.1)_red. Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.13.1. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/
- Avibase
- Sinclair, I and P Ryan. 2003. Birds of Africa South of the Sahara. Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0691118154
- Birdforum thread discussing this species
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Chestnut-naped Spurfowl. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 23 December 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Chestnut-naped_Spurfowl
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
