Black Francolin
Black Francolin
Francolinus francolinus
At a Glance
Similar in size to a Gray Partridge (13-15", 33-36 cm), the Black Francolin is an introduced game bird in Hawaii, with small populations also living in Florida and Louisiana. The male is distinctive, with his black face, white patch below the eye, chestnut collar and black chest. The female has paler and more uniform plumage, brown with darker and lighter barring. The female's wings are darker than her body, and she has two notable markings, a white throat and a chestnut patch on the back of the neck. Juveniles are generally similar to adult females.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Upland Ground Birds
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Freshwater Wetlands, Shrublands, Savannas, and Thickets
Behavior
Rapid Wingbeats, Running, Soaring
Range & Identification
Description
13-15" (33-36 cm). Male mostly black on head and chest with white face patch and belly spots, reddish collar, brown back. Female is mostly mottled brown, with hint of reddish collar.
Size
About the size of a Crow, About the size of a Robin
Wing Shape
Fingered, Rounded, Short
Tail Shape
Rounded, Short, Square-tipped
Songs and Calls
Creaking sound, loud during breeding season.
Habitat
Thick vegetation, brushy areas and tall grasslands; generally near water. Inhabits “mosaic” areas where forests and cultivated lands meet, but is not an interior forest bird. More closely associated with water than many other partridges.
Sign up for Audubon's newsletter to learn more about birds like the Black Francolin