Painted Francolin

Overview

The painted francolin, or painted partridge, is a species of francolin endemic to the Indian subcontinent. It is found in grassy areas in central and southern India and in the lowlands of southeastern Sri Lanka.

Identification

• Features a bright rufous face and throat with no dark stripe running behind the eye.
• Underside is marked with white spots, distinguishing it from the female black francolin.
• Legs are orange-yellow to red and lack spurs.
• Call is a guttural broken crow described as chee-kee-kerray-Chee-kee-kerray, often given from an elevated position.

Habitat

The species occupies semi-dry undulating grasslands with scrub or cultivation, favouring drier areas than the black francolin but wetter zones than the grey francolin. In Sri Lanka, it is present in the Bibila and Nilgala forest reserve of Gal Oya National Park in the Uva plains.

Diet

Diet consists of grass seeds such as Brachiaria ramosa, cultivated rice grains, beetles, and other insects. The bird also feeds on the tuberous roots of Cyperus rotundus.

Did you know?

Although generally difficult to spot, the painted francolin is notably more arboreal in its habits than the black francolin, roosting in trees and calling from elevated positions like mounds, bushes, or tree stumps.