Black Francolin

Overview

The black francolin (Francolinus francolinus) is a gamebird in the pheasant family, formerly known as the black partridge. It is the state bird of Haryana, India, where it is locally called kaala teetar, and its meat is used in Azerbaijani cuisine.

Identification

• Males are black with a white cheek patch, a chestnut collar, and white spots on the flanks, while females are mainly brown with a chestnut hind neck and no cheek patch.
• The species measures 33 to 36 cm in length and weighs approximately 453 g.
• Backs and wings are scalloped with golden-brown shades, and the rounded tail is black with narrow white or greyish bars.
• The call is described as a loud ringing "klik cheek-cheek-cheerakik" or "kik-kik-kik", often heard in the mornings and evenings.

Habitat

Found in scrubby habitats with cultivated crops that offer shelter and open ground for escape, the species prefers thick vegetation near water rather than dense forests. Its range extends from south-eastern Turkey eastwards to Iran, southwest Turkmenistan, northeast India, and parts of Bangladesh.

Diet

The birds forage on the ground for plant material and small invertebrates, including grain, grass seeds, fallen berries, shoots, tubers, termites, and ants.

Did you know?

Fossil remains of the black francolin have been discovered in early Holocene deposits in Loutra Almopias Cave in northern Greece, dating back 11,230 years.