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The Red-billed Spurfowl is a medium-sized, ground-dwelling bird native to southern Africa, identifiable by its reddish bill, red legs, and a distinctive yellow eye-ring. It prefers dry, bushy habitats like savannas and scrublands, where it forages for seeds, insects, and small plants. These birds are known for their loud, crowing calls and can be found in countries including Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Identification
Color: Predominantly brown or grayish-brown with fine, intricate barring on the belly, head, and back.
Distinctive features: A red bill, red legs, and a broad, yellow eye-ring that is very prominent. Juveniles have a reduced eye-ring and diffuse barring.
Size: Males are larger, about 38 cm (15 in) long, while females are slightly smaller at around 33 cm (13 in).
Habitat and diet
Habitat: Found in dry savannas, grasslands, woodlands, and scrublands with dense vegetation for cover. They are often seen near rivers and water sources.
Diet: Primarily eats seeds, insects, and small plants. They forage on the ground, often scratching through sandy areas and even animal droppings for seeds.
Behavior
Call: Makes a harsh, crowing, territorial call, often described as "chak, chak, chak, CHAK, chakitty".
Foraging: Forages for food on the ground, typically in the early morning and late afternoon.
Breeding: The breeding season is year-round and depends on rainfall. Their nest is a simple scrape in the ground, lined with grass.
Distribution
Native range: Southern Africa.
Countries: Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Other facts
Scientific name: Pternistis adspersus.
Classification: It is a type of game bird in the family Phasianidae.
Scientific name origin: The species name adspersus comes from Latin and means "sprinkling" or "scattered," possibly referring to the bird's speckled appearance.
Predators: Vulnerable to birds of prey and small mammalian carnivores.
