Animalia Life

Francolinus afer
SUBFAMILY
Phasianinae (Tribe Perdicini)
TAXONOMY
Tetrao afer Muller, 1776, Benguela, Angola. Seven subspecies.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Bare-throated francolin, red-necked spurfowl; French: Francolin а gorge rouge; German: Rotkehlfrankolin; Spanish: Francolнn Gorgirrojo.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
10–15 in (25–38 cm); 1.0–1.7 lb (440–770 g). Distinguished from F. rufopictus and F. swainsonii by scarlet throat and red bill and legs.
DISTRIBUTION
Africa, from Angola, across Congo basin to coastal Kenya, and from Rift Valley to east coast, south to southeast South Africa. Resident Tetraogallus tibetanus Resident Francolinus afer Vol. 8: Birds I Family: Fowls and pheasants
HABITAT
Moist evergreen forest in west and north of range, but in drier grass and scrub elsewhere.
BEHAVIOR
Reluctant to fly, runs if disturbed; males call early in the day and are territorial near nests; roost at night and midday in bushes and trees; single or in small parties, sometimes with other francolin species.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Tubers, roots, bulbs, shoots, berries, crops, and invertebrates, including ticks and termites.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Most breeding late in rainy seasons with two clutches in some places; probably monogamous; clutch size three to nine; incubation 23 days; chicks fly at 10 days and fully grown in four months; families together for most of year.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened and covering a large range; locally numerous but hunting may reduce numbers significantly in places.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

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