Jackson's Spurfowl

Pternistis jacksoni

Large, chunky brown francolin with a red bill, red legs, and bare red skin around the eye. Found in montane forest, forest edge, moorland, and grassland. Often in pairs or small groups that are often quite approachable. The common vocalization is a series of loud, rough “skraa” notes. Similar to Scaly Francolin, but larger and richer brown, with red bare skin around the eye. 

Taxonomy

Jackson's francolin was described in 1891 by the Scottish ornithologist William Robert Ogilvie-Grant from specimens collected by Frederick John Jackson in Kikuyu, Kenya. Ogilvie-Grant honoured Jackson and coined the binomial name Francolinus jacksoni. The species is now placed in the genus Pternistis that was introduced by the German naturalist Johann Georg Wagler in 1832. Jackson's spurfowl is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised.

Scientific name
Pternistis jacksoni
Authority
(Ogilvie-Grant, 1891)
Order
Galliformes
Family
Phasianidae
Genus
Pternistis

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Other Birds

Key West Quail-Dove

Key West Quail-Dove

Geotrygon chrysia

A smallish, chunky, ground-dwelling species of dense woodlands with thick leaf litter; prefers drier habitats. Secretive but not shy; sometimes detected by the rustling of leaves it is strolling through. The rather similar Bridled Quail-Dove is dull brown rather than reddish or purple on the upper back and it has iridescent turquoise on the sides of its neck. Ruddy Quail-Doves have less contrast in facial markings and the males have an entirely rusty back; some also sport a vertical white shoulder stripe. The Blue-headed Quail-Dove has a blue crown and bib. This species’ song is a soft, low plaintive “hooooooo,” given at a single pitch, but growing gradually louder before dropping off abruptly at the end.

Common Chiffchaff

Common Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus collybita

A very plain leaf warbler found in a variety of wooded and scrubby habitats, often near water. Best identified by voice: song is a slightly jerky double-noted chiff-chaff, chiff-chaff..., very different from song of the similar Willow Warbler. Relative to Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff is often duller, more brownish overall with weaker pale eyebrow, dark legs, and tends to habitually dip its tail. Also similar to Booted and Sykes’s Warbler, but these are browner toned with darkish legs and bill.

Masked Apalis

Masked Apalis

Apalis binotata

A small, slender warbler with greenish upperparts and reddish eyes; gray crown and cheeks are separated from the black throat by a striking white moustache. Juvenile has a green crown and a yellow throat. Locally common at scattered locations in lowland forest below 1500 meters of elevation, preferring the lower strata of primary and secondary forest and scrub in clearings. Pairs give a continuous buzzy “dree-lip, dreep-lip, dree-lip” and a dry “strik-strik-strik.” Masked Apalis looks similar to some montane forest apalises, but Black-throated Apalis has a striking yellow-orange belly, and Black-faced Apalis, an Albertine Rift endemic, has a black crown and the moustachial streak reduced to a neck spot. 

Start Your Bird Watching Journey

Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.