Red-necked Spurfowl
Pternistis afer
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<birdfyi-bird slug="pternistis-afer"></birdfyi-bird>About
A medium-large Phasianidae spurfowl (~574 g) of woodland, riverine scrub, and cultivated edges across eastern and southern Africa. Bright red bill, throat, and facial skin are unmistakable. Pairs or small groups forage on seeds, roots, and invertebrates. Calls loud and raucous at dawn; Least Concern.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 34.0 cm | 13.4 in |
| Weight | 574.1666666666666 g | 20.25 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Brown above with pale buff shaft streaks; white below with dense dark brown streaking; bare bright red facial skin extending prominently down neck diagnostic; red legs; dark bill. Sexes similar; widespread in Africa.
Habitat & Range
Geographic Range
Resident of open woodland, forest edge, and moist savanna from Ethiopia and Somalia south through East Africa to South Africa.
Diet & Feeding
Omnivorous; eats seeds, berries, invertebrates, and small animals in African savanna and scrubby woodland.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: SC. Incubation: 23 days. Fledging: 10 days.
Clutch Size
3-9
Sound
Song
Loud, harsh crowing duet; raucous 'krrreek-krrreek' repeated vigorously; common call at dawn in dense bush; alarm a rapid staccato clucking
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Galliformes (Gamebirds) |
| Family | Phasianidae (Pheasants & Partridges) |
| Genus | Pternistis |
| Species | Pternistis afer |
Distribution
Red-necked Spurfowl has been recorded in 1 countries.
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External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
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Similar Birds
Other species in the Phasianidae family