Moorland Francolin

Moorland Francolin
Illustration of S. p. psilolaemus by Joseph Smit, 1893
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Galliformes
Family:	Phasianidae
Subfamily:	Perdicinae
Genus:	Scleroptila
Species:	S. psilolaemus
Binomial name
Scleroptila psilolaemus Gray, 1867
Synonyms
Francolinus psilolaema Scleroptila psilolaema

The Moorland Francolin (Scleroptila psilolaemus) is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.

Distribution

It is found in moorland in the highlands of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda.

Taxonomy

The subspecies in the last two countries is sometimes known as the Elgon Francolin. Compared to the nominate subspecies of Ethiopia, the Elgon Francolin is brighter (more rufescent) and lacks black spots to the throat, leading to conflicting taxonomic treatments.^[1] Though most authorities maintain it as a subspecies of the Moorland Francolin, it been suggested that it is a species (S. elgonensis), a subspecies of the Shelley's Francolin (S. shelleyi elgonensis),^[1] or even a hybrid between the Moorland and Red-winged Francolins.^[2]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} McGowan, P. J. K. (1994). Moorland Francolin (Francolinus elgonensis). Pp. 494 in: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., & Sargatal, J. eds. (1994). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 2. New World Vultures to Guineafowl. Lynx Edicions, Barcelon. ISBN 84-87334-15-6
2. ^ McCarthy, Eugene M. (2006). Handbook of avian hybrids of the world. Oxford University Press US. pp. 50. ISBN 9780195183238. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=MwInO7z_Y3oC&pg=PA49&lpg=PA49&dq=Francolinus+elgonensis&source=bl&ots=cAgqKhsA30&sig=rouKSrdRas-YClvZ_eoWBMzEV2o&hl=en&ei=8814TNSoDISfcYev2IYG&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CBcQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Francolinus%20elgonensis&f=false. 

• BirdLife International 2004. Francolinus psilolaemus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 10 July 2007.