Natal Spurfowl
Pternistis natalensis
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<birdfyi-bird slug="pternistis-natalensis"></birdfyi-bird>The Natal Spurfowl (Pternistis natalensis) is a bird species in the family Phasianidae (pheasants & partridges), within the order Galliformes (gamebirds). Recorded measurements include a wingspan of 34.1 cm and a weight of 497.5 g. The IUCN Red List classifies it as Least Concern.
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About
A medium Phasianidae spurfowl (~498 g) of savanna, woodland, and riverine bush in southeastern Africa. Streaked brown-and-white with a yellow-to-red bill. Common in KwaZulu-Natal and adjacent countries. Territorial pairs forage on seeds, roots, and invertebrates. Adapts well to suburban gardens; Least Concern.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 34.1 cm | 13.4 in |
| Weight | 497.5 g | 17.55 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Brown above with pale buff shaft streaks; white below with dense dark brown streaking; orange-red bill; yellow-orange legs; red orbital skin. Sexes similar; resembles Swainson's but lacks bare red throat patch.
Habitat & Range
Geographic Range
Resident of savanna, thornbush, and moist woodland in South Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi.
Diet & Feeding
Feeds on seeds, berries, invertebrates, and plant material in South African savanna and grassland.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: SC. Incubation: 20 days.
Clutch Size
2-8
Sound
Song
Loud, raucous crowing duet; harsh grating 'kwee-kwee-kwee' repeated rapidly at dusk; alarm a sharp cackling chatter
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Galliformes (Gamebirds) |
| Family | Phasianidae (Pheasants & Partridges) |
| Genus | Pternistis |
| Species | Pternistis natalensis |
Distribution
Natal Spurfowl has been recorded in 1 countries.
countries highlighted
External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
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Similar Birds
Other species in the Phasianidae family