Red-necked Francolin

Taxobox
name = Red-necked Francolin
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1

---

image_width = 250px
image_caption = "F. a. cranchii"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Galliformes
familia = Phasianidae
genus = "Francolinus"
species = "F. afer"
binomial = "Francolinus afer"
binomial_authority = Müller, 1766

The Red-necked Francolin ("Francolinus afer"), also known as the Red-necked Spurfowl, is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. Formerly classified as a spurfowl, it is now regarded as a member of the "Francolinus" genus.

The Red-necked Francolin breeds across the central belt of Africa and down the east coast to Tanzania.

It is 25–38cm in length, with a significant size difference between the subspecies, of which there are seven. It is a generally dark francolin, brown above and black-streaked grey or white underparts. The bill, bare facial skin, neck and legs are bright red.

The Red-necked Francolin is a wary species, keeping to deep cover, although it sometimes feeds in open scrub or cultivation if disturbance is limited and there are thickets nearby. The nest is a bare scrape, and three to nine eggs are laid.

Widespread and common throughout its large range, the Red-necked Francolin is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
* "Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse" by Madge and McGowan, ISBN 0-7136-3966-0

External links

* [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=178&m=0 BirdLife Species Factsheet]
* [http://www.redlist.org/search/details.php?species=47034 IUCN Red List]