Ring-necked Francolin

Scleroptila streptophora

Medium-sized, elaborately patterned francolin. There is a striped head, a rufous nape, a white throat, and a band of black-and-white stripes around the neck. Shows at most a hint of rufous in the wings in flight. Found on the ground in grassy, open woodland. Shy, poorly known, and highly localized species. Distinctive call is a mournful series of several hollow notes that first go up, then descend. Somewhat similar to Coqui Francolin, but larger, with a different pattern below: mostly plain with a few bold streaks on the sides of the belly. Also similar to Red-winged Francolin, but has a cleaner white throat, lacks large red patches in the wings, and has a different pattern on the underparts.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Scleroptila streptophora
Authority
(Ogilvie-Grant, 1891)
Order
Galliformes
Family
Phasianidae
Genus
Scleroptila

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

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Ring-necked Francolin | BirdLens