Harwood's Spurfowl
Pternistis harwoodi
A dark, medium-sized francolin with a large patch of red bare skin around the eyes, and a red bill and legs. The blackish feathers of the back, neck, and underparts have pale fringes. An Ethiopian endemic that is found very locally on rocky and scrubby hillsides. A fairly shy francolin that is usually in pairs or small groups. Similar to Clapperton’s Francolin, but much darker overall, with a red rather than mostly black bill. Separated from Erckel’s Francolin by smaller size, darker and duller coloration, and red bill and legs. Calls include a decelerating series of rough “kreeya” notes, and a lower “chuck” call.
Taxonomy
Harwood's spurfowl was described in 1899 by the English ornithologists Herbert Weld Blundell and Simon Fraser, 14th Lord Lovat from a specimen that they had collected in the Aheafeg area of Ethiopia. They coined the binomial name Francolinus harwoodi. The specific epithet was chosen to honour the taxidermist and naturalist Leonard Harwood (fl. 1899). The species is now placed in the genus Pternistis that was introduced by the German naturalist Johann Georg Wagler in 1832. A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2019 found that Harwood's spurfowl is sister to Clapperton's spurfowl. Harwood's spurfowl is considered to be monotypic: no subspecies are recognised.
- Scientific name
- Pternistis harwoodi
- Authority
- (Blundell & Lovat, 1899)
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Genus
- Pternistis
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Small bunting with an attractive contrasting head pattern: black crown with red-brown central stripe and pale eyering. Rufous cheeks bordered by narrow black lines framing the eyes. In the nonbreeding season, less bright overall but white wingbars more conspicuous. Breeds in taiga forests and open tundra with scattered birches and willows, often near water; song is a pleasant two- or three-part series of bright, buzzy warbled notes. Winters in various open habitats, including fields, brushy roadside ditches, and gardens. Often attracts attention by its sharp clicking "zick" call note.
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Overall rusty-colored, medium-sized flycatcher of humid tropical forest in the lowlands. Favors middle to upper levels inside forest, where sits still for long periods and sallies out for insects and other small critters. Call is a distinctive slow wolf-whistle—“whee-wheeu,” given at infrequent intervals and easily imitated. Note the overall rusty plumage, slender bill, and behavior. Can be confused with slightly larger Rufous Piha, which has a bushier face, paler throat, and a very different voice.
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Small antshrike found in the lower and middle levels of dry forests and at the edge of humid forests. Males are gray overall with a black crown, and white-spotted black wings and tail. Females have a rusty crown, back, and tail, are buff below with white spots on the wings. The song is a loud and long series of around 20 descending notes that accelerate in pace. Doesn’t overlap in range with similar Sooretama Slaty-Antshrike and is told from Variable Antshrike by paler gray plumage in males and richer rufous color in females.
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