The 'grassland francolins' (genus Scleroptila),
which include the Orange River,
Grey-winged, Red-winged and
Shelley's francolins, are quite similar
to one another. The Orange River francolin is highly variable in plumage pattern
and is most easily confused with the Red-winged francolin from which it can be
distinguished by having a thin, not broad, breast band. It differs from
Shelley's francolin in lacking bold black and white markings on the lower breast
and belly and by only one of the facial stripes (the moustachial stripe) meeting
on the breast to form the breast band. It differs from Grey-winged francolin in having a white, not grey-freckled,
throat.
Male and female have the same plumage. The male can be
distinguished by having leg spurs.
Distribution and habitat
Found in grasslands and arid savannas. Near endemic to
southern Africa with a distribution extending from southern Angola, through
northern Namibia and Botswana and into the Free State and adjacent regions.
Archer's francolin Scleroptila lorti, which is found in Ethiopia and
vicinity, was considered a subspecies of the Scleroptila levaillantoides but
is now generally given full species status.
No records but would be vulnerable to birds-of-prey and
small mammalian carnivores. Blood and nematode parasites have been found in
other similar francolin species.
Food
Corms, bulbs (e.g. Moraea species), seeds, berries,
flowers, fallen grain, green shoots; insects in summer.
Breeding
Nest, which is built by the female, is a scrape in the
ground, lined with dry grass and hidden in dense grass.
Breeding season (laying dates): year round, depending
on rainfall.
After laying 3-8 eggs, the female incubates them for
20-23 days.
Young leave nest soon after hatching; start taking
short flights after 12-14 days, and fly strongly after 5-6 weeks.
Conservation
Vulnerable to overgrazing and too frequent burning, and re
References
Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ and Ryan PG (eds) 2005. Roberts
- Birds of southern Africa, VIIth ed. The Trustees of the John Voelcker
Bird Book Fund, Cape Town.
Sinclair, I, Hockey, P. and Tarboton, W. 2002. Sasol
Birds of Southern Africa. 3rd edition. Struik, Cape Town.
