Within its range it is the only spurfowl without bare skin
around the eyes and on the throat. The Cape spurfowl also lacks these features
but the ranges don't overlap and in addition it has a scaly-patterned lower
breast without the streaks found in Cape spurfowl.
Plumage of male and female is similar. The male is heavier
(average weight c 500 g versus c 390 g in female) and has much longer leg spurs
than the female.
Distribution and habitat
Occurs in eastern regions of South Africa, in eastern
Botswana, all over Zimbabwe, northern Mozambique and outside of southern Africa
it is found in southern Zambia. Found in savanna, woodland and coastal forest.
Mainly eats plants in winter, supplemented with insects in
summer, doing most of its foraging in the early morning and late afternoon. It
often scratches through animal dung in search of undigested seeds. The following
food items have been recorded in its diet:
After laying 2-7 eggs, the female incubates them for 20-25 days before
they hatch.
Chicks can fly short distances after 10-14 days.
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.
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