%2020.jpg)
The Red-billed Spurfowl (Pternistis adspersus) is a common Southern African ground bird, known for its red bill, red legs, and distinctive yellow eye-ring, found in dry savannas and bushlands, feeding on seeds, insects, and berries, and known for loud, harsh calls, often seen in groups, nesting in shallow scrapes, and breeding year-round after rain.
Key Facts
Name: Also called Red-billed Francolin; scientific name Pternistis adspersus.
Appearance: Medium-sized, brown, barred underparts, bright red bill, red legs, and a prominent yellow eye-ring. Males are slightly larger.
Habitat: Dry savannas, grasslands, woodlands, and bushveld in Southern Africa (Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe).
%2021.jpg)
Diet: Primarily seeds, berries, and insects, often foraging on the ground by scratching.
Behavior: Ground-dwelling, often confiding, forms flocks (up to 20) outside breeding season, gives loud territorial calls.
Breeding: Nests in shallow ground scrapes, breeds year-round, often triggered by rain, lays 3-10 eggs.
Identification: The yellow eye-ring and red bill/legs distinguish it from other regional francolins.
