Swainson's Spurfowl
Pternistis swainsonii
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<birdfyi-bird slug="pternistis-swainsonii"></birdfyi-bird>The Swainson's Spurfowl (Pternistis swainsonii) is a bird species in the family Phasianidae (pheasants & partridges), within the order Galliformes (gamebirds). Recorded measurements include a wingspan of 37.3 cm and a weight of 591.2 g. The IUCN Red List classifies it as Least Concern.
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About
A large Phasianidae spurfowl (~591 g) of open grassland, savanna, and farmland across southern Africa from Zambia to South Africa. Dark brown, streaked rufous-buff; red facial skin and bill. Often seen foraging in large groups in cultivated fields. Adapts to agricultural landscapes; common gamebird. Least Concern.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 37.3 cm | 14.7 in |
| Weight | 591.25 g | 20.86 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Brown above with buff shaft streaks; white below with dense dark brown streaking; bare red facial skin extends down throat forming visible naked neck patch; red legs; dark bill. Sexes similar; southern Africa.
Habitat & Range
Geographic Range
Resident of open savanna, grassland, and bushveld from South Africa north to Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and southeastern Botswana.
Diet & Feeding
Omnivorous; eats seeds, berries, invertebrates, and small animals in southern African open savanna.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: SC. Incubation: 21-23 days. Fledging: 10 days.
Clutch Size
3-12
Sound
Song
Very loud, penetrating crowing; harsh 'kweh-kweh-kweh' repeated up to 20 times; one of the loudest African spurfowl; carries across open farmland
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Galliformes (Gamebirds) |
| Family | Phasianidae (Pheasants & Partridges) |
| Genus | Pternistis |
| Species | Pternistis swainsonii |
Distribution
Swainson's Spurfowl has been recorded in 1 countries.
countries highlighted
External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Swainson's Spurfowl eat?
Where does the Swainson's Spurfowl live?
Is the Swainson's Spurfowl endangered?
How does the Swainson's Spurfowl nest?
What does the Swainson's Spurfowl sound like?
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What order and family does the Swainson's Spurfowl belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Phasianidae family