Francolin

Group of birds

Francolin

Grey francolin
Scientific classification
Kingdom:  | Animalia
Phylum:  | Chordata
Class:  | Aves
Order:  | Galliformes
Family:  | Phasianidae
Subfamily:  | Phasianinae
Tribe:  | Gallini
Genera

Peliperdix
Ortygornis
Francolinus
Campocolinus
Scleroptila

Francolins are birds in the tribe Gallini that traditionally have been placed in the genus Francolinus, but now commonly are divided into multiple genera.[1]

As previously defined, they were paraphyletic as the genus Pternistis, which was previously included in Francolinus, is more closely related to Old World quails than it is to the other francolins. Beginning in 2004, various ornithologists have recommended that it would be clearer to use "spurfowl" for all members of the genus Pternistis and restrict the use of "francolin" to the other species presently or formerly classified in Francolinus.[2] When Pternistis is excluded, the francolins form a monophyletic clade that is a sister group to a clade comprising the junglefowl (Gallus) and the bamboo partridges (Bambusicola); together, these clades compose the tribe Gallini.[1]

Although formerly classified in the partridge subfamily Perdicinae, this classification is no longer supported, and they are now classified in the subfamily Pavoninae.[1]

Francolins are terrestrial (though not flightless) birds that feed on insects, vegetable matter and seeds. Most of the members have a hooked upper beak, well-suited for digging at the bases of grass tussocks and rootballs. They have wide tails with fourteen rectrix feathers. Most species exhibit spurs on the tarsi.[3]

## Distribution

[edit]

Of the approximately 17 extant species, the natural range of five (composing the genus Francolinus and Ortygornis) are restricted to Asia, while the remaining genera are restricted to Africa.[4] Several species have been introduced to other parts of the world, notably Hawaii.

Twelve of the species which occur in Africa are found in the subcontinental region of southern Africa; of these, seven occur in varying proportions within the political boundaries of Namibia and Zambia. Six southern African francolins are considered endemic to the subcontinent, of which three are found in Namibia and Zambia (the Hartlaub's, red-billed and Orange River francolins).

The Cape spurfowl, endemic to the Cape Province of South Africa, occurs marginally in southern Namibia and southwestern Zambia. A fossil francolin, Francolinus capeki, has been described from Late Pliocene deposits of Hungary; the contemporary fossil galliforms "Francolinus" minor and "F." subfrancolinus are now placed in Palaeocryptonyx.

## Taxonomy

[edit]

Until the early 1990s, major authorities placed all francolins in the genus Francolinus.[4] In 1992 it was suggested that this treatment was problematic, and the francolins should be split into four genera: Francolinus for the Asian species, and the African species divided into Peliperdix, Scleroptila and Pternistis.[5] The crested francolin and Nahan's francolin were considered possibly quite distinct, but still maintained in Peliperdix and Pternistis respectively.[5] Based on further evidence, the crested francolin was moved to the monotypic genus Dendroperdix in 1998,[6] and the Nahan's francolin was moved to Ptilopachus in 2006.[7] Though some still maintain all these in Francolinus,[8][9] the split into multiple genera is becoming more widespread.[10][11] In 2021, two species in Francolinus (the grey and swamp francolins) along with the crested francolin were moved into the genus Ortygornis, while three species from Peliperdix (the coqui, white-throated, and Schlegel's francolins) were moved into the new genus Campocolinus. Pternistis was moved to the tribe Coturnicini and, as with Nahan's "francolin", is no longer considered a francolin.[12][13][14][15]

When split, the English name "francolin" is generally restricted to the members of the genera Francolinus, Ortygornis, Campocolinus, Peliperdix and Scleroptila,[10][11] while the name "spurfowl" is used for Pternistis ("spurfowl" is also used for Galloperdix of the Indian subcontinent).[10][11] As the Nahan's "francolin" is related to the stone partridge rather than the true francolins and spurfowl,[7][16] its name is sometimes modified to Nahan's partridge.[11]

In addition to the major changes proposed at genus level, the species level taxonomy among several francolins/spurfowl is disputed. For example, the distribution of the Orange River francolin (Scleroptila levaillantoides) is highly disjunct, leading some authorities to split the northern taxa (from Kenya and northwards) into a separate species, the acacia/Archer's francolin (S. gutturalis, with subspecies lorti), while maintaining the southern taxa (from Angola and southwards) in the Orange River francolin.[4] Most authorities treat the Elgon francolin (S. psilolaema elgonensis) as a subspecies of the moorland francolin,[4][8][9][10] but others have suggested it is a species (S. elgonensis), a subspecies of the Shelley's francolin,[4] or even a hybrid between the moorland and red-winged francolins.[17]

### Species

[edit]

* Peliperdix:
* Latham's francolin, Peliperdix lathami
* Ortygornis:
* Crested francolin, Ortygornis sephaena
* Grey francolin, Ortygornis pondicerianus
* Swamp francolin, Ortygornis gularis
* Francolinus:
* Black francolin, Francolinus francolinus
* Painted francolin, Francolinus pictus
* Chinese francolin, Francolinus pintadeanus
* Campocolinus:
* Coqui francolin, Campocolinus coqui
* White-throated francolin, Campocolinus albogularis
* Schlegel's francolin, Campocolinus schlegelii
* Scleroptila:
* Ring-necked francolin, Scleroptila streptophora
* Red-winged francolin, Scleroptila levaillantii
* Finsch's francolin, Scleroptila finschi
* Moorland francolin, Scleroptila psilolaema
* Grey-winged francolin, Scleroptila afra
* Orange River francolin, Scleroptila gutturalis
* Shelley's francolin, Scleroptila shelleyi

With a paraphyletic classification, the genus Pternistis in the tribe Coturnicini is also considered a francolin; due to the resulting paraphyly, this classification is no longer supported and has been recommended against.[2]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Galliformes". bird-phylogeny (in German). Retrieved 2021-08-22.
2. ^ a b Crowe, T.M.; Little, R.M. (2004). "Francolins, partridges and spurfowls: what's in a name". Ostrich. 75 (4): 199–203\. Bibcode:2004Ostri..75..199C. doi:10.2989/00306520409485445. S2CID 83631933.
3. ^ B P Hall (1963) The Francolins, a study in speciation. Bulletin of the British Museum 10(2):105-204 Scan
4. ^ a b c d e McGowan, P. J. K. (1994). Francolins (genus Francolinus). Pp. 489-504 in: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., & Sargatal, J. eds. (1994). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 2. New World Vultures to Guineafowl. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ISBN 84-87334-15-6
5. ^ a b Crowe, T. M., Harley, E. H.,Jakutowic, M. B., Komen, J., & Crowe, A. A. (1992). Phylogenetic, taxonomic and biogeographical implications of genetic, morphological, and behavioral variation in Francolins (Phasianidae: Francolinus). Auk 109(1): 24-42.
6. ^ Bloomer, P, & Crowe, T. M. (1998). Francolin phylogenetics: molecular, morphobehavioral, and combined evidence. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 9(2): 236-54.
7. ^ a b Crowe, T. M., Bowie, R.C.K., Bloomer, P., Mandiwana, T.G., Hedderson, T.A.J., Randi, E., Pereira, S., & Wakeling, J. (2006). Phylogenetics, biogeography and classification of, and character evolution in, gamebirds (Aves: Galliformes): Effects of character exclusion, data partitioning and missing data. Cladistics 22: 495-532.
8. ^ a b Dickinson, E. C. eds. (2003). The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. 3rd edition. ISBN 0-7136-6536-X
9. ^ a b Clements, J. F. (2007). The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 978-0-7136-8695-1
10. ^ a b c d Sinclair, I., & Ryan, P. (2003). Birds of Africa south of the Sahara. Struik Publishers, Cape Town. ISBN 1-86872-857-9
11. ^ a b c d Gill, F, & Donsker, D. eds. (2010). IOC World Bird Names. Version 2.7. Accessed 15 January 2011.
12. ^ Crowe, Timothy M.; Mandiwana-Neudani, Tshifhiwa G.; Donsker, David B.; Bowie, Rauri CK; Little, Robin M. (2020-04-02). "Resolving nomenclatural 'confusion' vis-à-vis Latham's Francolin (Francolinus/Peliperdix/Afrocolinus lathami) and the 'Red-tailed' francolins (Francolinus/Ortygornis/Peliperdix spp.)". Ostrich. 91 (2): 134–136\. Bibcode:2020Ostri..91..134C. doi:10.2989/00306525.2020.1723140. ISSN 0030-6525. S2CID 219442370.
13. ^ Mandiwana-Neudani, Tshifhiwa G.; Little, Robin M.; Crowe, Timothy M.; Bowie, Rauri CK (2019-05-04). "Taxonomy, phylogeny and biogeography of African spurfowls Galliformes, Phasianidae, Phasianinae, Coturnicini: Pternistis spp". Ostrich. 90 (2): 145–172\. Bibcode:2019Ostri..90..145M. doi:10.2989/00306525.2019.1584925. ISSN 0030-6525. S2CID 195417777.
14. ^ Kimball, Rebecca T.; Hosner, Peter A.; Braun, Edward L. (2021-05-01). "A phylogenomic supermatrix of Galliformes (Landfowl) reveals biased branch lengths". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 158: 107091. Bibcode:2021MolPE.15807091K. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107091. ISSN 1055-7903. PMID 33545275. S2CID 231963063.
15. ^ "Taxonomic Updates – IOC World Bird List". Retrieved 2021-07-14.
16. ^ Crowe, T. (2010). Phylogenetic affinities of enigmatic African galliforms: the stone partridge Ptilopachus petrosus and Latham's and Nahan's 'francolins' Francolinus lathami and F. nahani. Cladistics 26: 206-206. (Abstract).
17. ^ McCarthy, Eugene M. (2006). Handbook of avian hybrids of the world. Oxford University Press US. p. 50\. ISBN 978-0-19-518323-8.

A Molecular Phylogeny of the Pheasants and Partridges Suggests That These Lineages Are Not Monophyletic R. T. Kimball,* E. L. Braun,*,† P. W. Zwartjes,* T. M. Crowe,‡,§ and J. D. Ligon*

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Francolinus.

Look up francolin in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikiquote has quotations related to Francolin.

* Francolin videos on the Internet Bird Collection
* "Francolin" . The American Cyclopædia. 1879.

* v
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Phasianidae

* Kingdom: Animalia
* Phylum: Chordata
* Class: Aves
* Order: Galliformes

Subfamily Phasianinae

| Tribe Lerwini|

| Lerwa|

* Snow partridge (L. lerwa)

|

Tribe Ithaginini|

| Ithaginis|

* Blood pheasant (I. cruentus)

|

Tribe Lophophorini|

| Tragopan|

* Blyth's tragopan (T. blythii)
* Cabot's tragopan (T. caboti)
* Western tragopan (T. melanocephalus)
* Satyr tragopan (T. satyra)
* Temminck's tragopan (T. temminckii)

|

Tetraophasis|

* Verreaux's monal-partridge (T. obscurus)
* Szechenyi's monal-partridge (T. szechenyii)

Lophophorus|

* Himalayan monal (L. impejanus)
* Sclater's monal (L. sclateri)
* Chinese monal (L. lhuysii)

Tribe Pucrasiini|

| Pucrasia|

* Koklass pheasant (P. macrolopha)

|

Tribe Meleagridini|

| Meleagris|

* Wild turkey (M. gallopavo)
* Ocellated turkey (M. ocellata)
* † Californian turkey (M. californica)

|

Tribe Tetraonini
Grouse|

| Canachites|

* Spruce grouse (C. canadensis)
* Franklin's grouse (C. canadensis franklinii)

|

Falcipennis|

* Siberian grouse (F. falcipennis)

Dendragapus|

* Dusky grouse (D. obscurus)
* Sooty grouse (D. fuliginosus)

Lagopus|

* Willow ptarmigan (L. lagopus)
* Red grouse (L. l. scotica)
* Rock ptarmigan (L. muta)
* White-tailed ptarmigan (L. leucura)

Tetrao|

* Western capercaillie (T. urogallus)
* Cantabrian capercaillie (T. u. cantabricus)
* Black-billed capercaillie (T. urogalloides)

Lyrurus|

* Black grouse (L. tetrix)
* Caucasian grouse (L. mlokosiewiczi)

Tetrastes|

* Hazel grouse (T. bonasia)
* Chinese grouse (T. sewerzowi)

Bonasa|

* Ruffed grouse (B. umbellus)

Centrocercus|

* Greater sage-grouse (C. urophasianus)
* Gunnison grouse (C. minimus)

Tympanuchus|

* Sharp-tailed grouse (T. phasianellus)
* Columbian sharp-tailed grouse (T. p. columbianus)
* Greater prairie-chicken (T. cupido)
* Heath hen (extinct)
* Attwater's prairie-chicken (T. c. attwateri)
* Lesser prairie-chicken (T. pallidicinctus)

Tribe Rhizotherini|

| Rhizothera|

* Long-billed partridge (R. longirostris)
* Dulit partridge (R. dulitensis)

|

Tribe Phasianini|

| Perdix|

* Grey partridge (P. perdix)
* Daurian partridge (P. dauurica)
* Tibetan partridge (P. hodgsoniae)

|

Syrmaticus|

* Elliot's pheasant (S. ellioti)
* Mrs. Hume's pheasant (S. humiae)
* Mikado pheasant (S. mikado)
* Copper pheasant (S. soemmerringi)
* Reeve's pheasant (S. reevesi)

Chrysolophus|

* Lady Amherst's pheasant (C. amherstiae)
* Golden pheasant (C. pictus)

Phasianus|

* Common pheasant (P. colchicus)
* Green pheasant (P. versicolor)

Catreus|

* Cheer pheasant (Catreus wallichi)

Crossoptilon|

* Blue eared pheasant (C. auritum)
* White eared pheasant (C. crossoptilon)
* Tibetan eared pheasant (C. harmani)
* Brown eared pheasant (C.mantchuricum)

Lophura|

* Bulwer's pheasant (L. bulweri)
* Siamese fireback (L. diardi)
* Edward's pheasant (L. edwardsi)
* Crestless fireback (L. erythrophthalma)
* Vietnamese pheasant (L. hatinhensis)
* Crested fireback (L. ignita)
* Imperial pheasant (L. imperialis)
* Salvadori's pheasant (L. inornata)
* Hoogerwerf's pheasant (L. i. hoogerwerfi)
* Kalij pheasant (L. leucomelanos)
* Silver pheasant (L. nycthemera)
* Swinhoe's pheasant (L. swinhoii)

Subfamily Rollulinae

| Xenoperdix|

* Rubeho forest partridge (X. obscuratus)
* Udzungwa forest partridge (X. udzungwensis)

|

Caloperdix|

* Ferruginous partridge (C. oculeus)

Rollulus|

* Crested partridge (R. rouloul)

Melanoperdix|

* Black partridge (M. niger)

Arborophila|

* Hill partridge (A. torqueola)
* Sichuan partridge (A. rufipectus)
* Chestnut-breasted partridge (A. mandellii)
* White-necklaced partridge (A. gingica)
* Rufous-throated partridge (A. rufogularis)
* Red-billed partridge (A.a rubrirostris)
* Siamese partridge (A. diversa)
* Chestnut-headed partridge (A. cambodiana)
* Hainan partridge (A. ardens)
* Taiwan partridge (A. crudigularis)
* White-cheeked partridge (A. atrogularis)
* Bar-backed partridge (A. brunneopectus)
* Orange-necked partridge (A. davidi)
* Red-breasted partridge (A. hyperythra)
* Malayan partridge (A. campbelli)
* Roll's partridge (A. rolli)
* Sumatran partridge (A. sumatrana)
* Chestnut-bellied partridge (A. javanica)
* Grey-breasted partridge (A. orientalis)

Subfamily Pavoninae

| Tribe Pavonini|

| Rheinardia|

* Vietnamese crested argus (R. ocellata)
* Malayan crested argus (R. nigrescens)

|

Argusianus|

* Great argus (A. argus)

Afropavo|

* Congo peafowl (A. congensis)

Pavo|

* Indian peafowl (P. cristatus)
* Green peafowl (P. muticus)

Tropicoperdix|

* Chestnut-necklaced partridge (T. charltonii)
* Green-legged partridge (T. chloropus)

Tribe Polyplectronini|

| Haematortyx|

* Crimson-headed partridge (H. sanguiniceps)

|

Galloperdix|

* Red spurfowl (G. spadicea)
* Painted spurfowl (G. lunulata)
* Sri Lanka spurfowl (G. bicalcarata)

Polyplectron|

* Grey peacock-pheasant (P. bicalcaratum)
* Bronze-tailed peacock-pheasant (P. chalcurum)
* Palawan peacock-pheasant (P. emphanum)
* Germain's peacock-pheasant (P. germaini)
* Mountain peacock-pheasant (P. inopinatum)
* Hainan peacock-pheasant (P. katsumatae)
* Malayan peacock-pheasant (P. malacense)
* Bornean peacock-pheasant (P. schleiermacheri)

Tribe Gallini|

| Bambusicola|

* Mountain bamboo partridge (B. fytchii)
* Chinese bamboo partridge (B. thoracicus)
* Taiwan bamboo partridge (B. sonorivox)

|

Gallus|

* Red junglefowl (G. gallus)
* Sri Lankan junglefowl (G. lafayetii)
* Grey junglefowl (G. sonneratii)
* Green junglefowl (G. varius)

Peliperdix|

* Latham's francolin (P. lathami)

Ortygornis|

* Crested francolin (O. sephaena)
* Grey francolin (O. pondicerianus)
* Swamp francolin (O. gularis)

Francolinus|

* Black francolin (F. francolinus)
* Painted francolin (F. pictus)
* Chinese francolin (F. pintadeanus)

Campocolinus|

* Coqui francolin (C. coqui)
* White-throated francolin, (C. albogularis)
* Schlegel's francolin (C. schlegelii)

Scleroptila|

* Ring-necked francolin (S. streptophora)
* Red-winged francolin (S. levaillantii)
* Finsch's francolin (S. finschi)
* Moorland francolin (S. psilolaema)
* Grey-winged francolin (S. afra)
* Orange River francolin (S. gutturalis)
* Shelley's francolin (S. shelleyi)

Tribe Coturnicini|

| Tetraogallus|

* Caucasian snowcock (T. caucasicus)
* Caspian snowcock (T. caspius)
* Himalayan snowcock (T. himalayensis)
* Tibetan snowcock (T. tibetanus)
* Altai snowcock (T. altaicus)

|

Ammoperdix|

* See-see partridge (A. griseogularis)
* Sand partridge (A. heyi)

Synoicus|

* Brown quail (S. ypsilophorus)
* Snow Mountain quail (S. monorthonyx)
* Blue quail (S. adansonii)
* King quail (S. chinensis)

Margaroperdix|

* Madagascar partridge (M. madagarensis)

Coturnix|

* Rain quail (C. coromandelica)
* Harlequin quail (C. delegorguei)
* Common quail (C. coturnix)
* Japanese quail (C. japonica)
* Stubble quail (C. pectoralis)

Alectoris|

* Arabian partridge (A. melanocephala)
* Przevalski's partridge (A. magna)
* Rock partridge (A. graeca)
* Chukar partridge (A. chukar)
* Philby's partridge (A. philbyi)
* Barbary partridge (A. barbara)
* Red-legged partridge (A. rufa)

Perdicula|

* Jungle bush quail (P. asiatica)
* Rock bush quail (P. argoondah)
* Painted bush quail (P. erythrorhyncha)
* Manipur bush quail (P. manipurensis)

Ophrysia|

* Himalayan quail (O. superciliosa) (possibly extinct)

Pternistis|

* Hartlaub's spurfowl (P. hartlaubi)
* Mount Cameroon spurfowl (P. camerunensis)
* Handsome spurfowl (P. nobilis)
* Chestnut-naped spurfowl (P. castaneicollis)
* Black-fronted spurfowl (P. atrifrons)
* Erckel's spurfowl (P. erckelii)
* Djibouti spurfowl (P. ochropectus)
* Swierstra's spurfowl (P. swierstrai)
* Ahanta spurfowl (P. ahantensis)
* Grey-striped spurfowl (P. griseostriatus)
* Jackson's spurfowl (P. jacksoni)
* Red-billed spurfowl (P. adspersus)
* Cape spurfowl (P. capensis)
* Natal spurfowl (P. natalensis)
* Hildebrandt's spurfowl (P. hildebrandti)
* Double-spurred spurfowl (P. bicalcaratus)
* Scaly spurfowl (P. squamatus)
* Heuglin's spurfowl (P. icterorhynchus)
* Clapperton's spurfowl (P. clappertoni)
* Harwood's spurfowl (P. harwoodi)
* Swainson's spurfowl (P. swainsonii)
* Yellow-necked spurfowl (P. leucoscepus)
* Grey-breasted spurfowl (P. rufopictus)
* Red-necked spurfowl (P. afer)

185 living species in 32 genera

Authority control databases

National|

* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Israel

Other|

* Yale LUX

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*[e]: Edit this template
*[†]: Extinct