Moorland Francolin
Scleroptila psilolaema
A pretty, intricately marked medium-sized francolin. The white throat is spotted with black, and the wings show large rufous patches in flight. Found at high elevations in alpine grassland and heath, often in small groups. Similar to Orange River Francolin, but found in different habitat at higher elevations, and separated by the black-spotted throat. The vocalizations include a series of “cheedle-chee” notes, and a squealing call often given in flight.
Taxonomy
The Elgon francolin of the highlands of Kenya and Uganda was formerly considered a subspecies of S. psilolaema, but was split as a distinct species by the IUCN Red List and BirdLife International in 2014, and by the International Ornithological Congress in 2022 based on a 2019 study. Compared to the moorland francolin, the Elgon francolin is brighter (more rufescent) and lacks black spots to the throat, and also differs in vocalizations.
- Scientific name
- Scleroptila psilolaema
- Authority
- (Gray, GR, 1867)
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Genus
- Scleroptila
Range and habitat
It is found in moorland in the highlands of Ethiopia.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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