Yellow-necked Spurfowl
Pternistis leucoscepus
A large brown francolin with yellow bare skin on the throat and red bare skin around the eyes. The bill and legs are black. Pale patches in the outer wings are conspicuous in flight. Found in a variety of fairly arid savanna habitats and in adjacent agricultural fields. Usually in pairs or small groups. Easily separated from other francolins by its bare yellow throat. The call is a fading series of rough “kreaaak” notes.
Taxonomy
The yellow-necked spurfowl was described in 1867 by the English ornithologist George Robert Gray and given the binomial name Francolinus leucoscepus. The type locality is Ethiopia. The specific epithet leucoscepus combines the Ancient Greek leukos meaning "white" and skepas meaning "covering" or "mantle". The species is now placed in the genus Pternistis that was introduced by the German naturalist Johann Georg Wagler in 1832.<p>Two subspecies are recognised:
- Scientific name
- Pternistis leucoscepus
- Authority
- (Gray, GR, 1867)
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Genus
- Pternistis
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
It has been noted that this bird is most active at dawn and dusk. The bird is also noted to be very adaptable, it can continue to live in land after agriculture begins, it only leaves lands when heavy human occupation begins.
Conservation
The yellow-necked spurfowl is not in the threshold for vulnerable species despite the fact that its population (though unquantified) is thought to be in decline (though not at a fast rate). The primary threat to the species is over-hunting.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Blue-tailed Trogon
Trogon comptus
Colorful trogon of lowland and foothill rainforest in western Ecuador and western Colombia. Both sexes have conspicuous white eyes, unmarked black tail, red belly, and mostly yellow bill. Male is green with a black face. Female is gray with a dark top to her yellow bill. Differs from Slaty-tailed Trogon by yellow (not orange) bill. Also similar to Ecuadorian Trogon, but lacks white on breast. Perches high in the trees for long periods, occasionally sallying out to take fruits or insects. Often first detected by song, a lazy series of 20 or more mellow whistles.
Chaco Owl
Strix chacoensis
Large owl of Chaco forest in SE Bolivia, W Paraguay, and NW Argentina. Note round head, barred underparts, and whitish throat. Song a distinctive dry rattled series of hoots. Prefers tall arid thorn forest.
Opalton Grasswren
Amytornis rowleyi
Small, long-tailed bird with black moustache and rufous-brown upperparts, found only in the Winton-Opalton area of western Queensland, where it is the only expected grasswren. This species is found in habitat with large spinifex clumps, where it scurries around between clumps. Upperparts rufous-brown, with white throat and pale underparts. Formerly considered a subspecies of Striated Grasswren.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.