Erckel's Spurfowl

Overview

Erckel's spurfowl, also known as Erckel's francolin, is a species of game bird in the family Phasianidae and is considered the largest African spurfowl. It is native to the highlands of the Horn of Africa and has been introduced to locations such as Hawaii and Italy.

Identification

• 38–43 cm in length, with females slightly smaller than males.
• Body covered in chestnut stripes on both upperside and underside, with a chestnut head top and back of neck.
• Black face and bill, white ear coverts, and a single white streak behind the eye.
• Yellow legs and similar plumage between sexes.

Habitat

Native to the northern parts of Eritrea and Ethiopia, as well as northeast Sudan, inhabiting elevations between 2,000 and 3,500 metres above sea level. The species is also found in introduced populations in Hawaii and Italy. It typically resides in mountainous areas such as the Degua Tembien district.

Diet

The diet consists of plants such as berries, seeds, and shoots, alongside insects. It forages in scrublands or at the edge of forests, hunting either alone or in pairs.

Did you know?

Its territorial calls are described as "an insane cackled laughter, speeding towards the end with a bouncing ball pattern," consisting of 15–20 notes repeated over a long period from clifftops and large rocks.