Coqui Francolin

Common resident. A small species. Male has tawny head and neck and barred underparts. Female has white throat bordered black and black eyebrow extending to the upper neck (cf. [Shelley’s Francolin]; [Orange River Francolin]). The call is a piping ‘ko-kwee, ko-kwee…’ or ‘be-quick, be-quick…’ repeated continually. Males also utter a loud, high-pitched crowing ‘kek, KEKekekekekekekekekekek’, the second note loudest and all others diminishing in volume. Habitually walks in a slow, stooped manner, as the female illustrated, especially when crossing roads and other open spaces; crouches motionless when alarmed. Pairs or small family groups frequent well-grassed bushveld and woodland.