Natal Spurfowl
Pternistis natalensis
Riverine bush. Dark brown above with black streaking; speckled black and white below; bill red and yellow; legs red.
Francolins, Quails, Spurfowl
LC
Near Endemic
Description
Common, near-endemic resident. Identified by entirely black-and-white-barred underparts (bolder bars than in [Red-billed Spurfowl]), red legs and red bill with a yellow base. The call is a harsh ‘kwali, KWALI, kwali’; when alarmed utters a raucous cackling. Parties of six to 10 favour granite koppies, riverine forest, wooded valleys and thornveld, generally in rocky situations and seldom far from water.
Quick Facts
Size
30-38 cm - M
Names
A: Natalse Fisant
Z: unomemeza
Ss: Kgwale Ya Molomolamunu
G: Natalfrankolin
Bird Family
Terrestrial birds of mostly gregarious habits (quails excepted). Their crowing or cackling calls are useful identification features. Immatures resemble adults but are usually duller. Quails are nomadic and irruptive, whereas francolins are more sedentary.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
Parties of six to 10 favour granite koppies, riverine 'forest', wooded valleys and thornveld, generally in rocky situations and seldom far from water.
