Pternistis clappertoni
Clapperton's Spurfowl (*Pternistis clappertoni*) is a robust, ground-dwelling gamebird native to the savannas and arid scrublands of East and Central Africa. Measuring 33-38 cm in length and weighing between 350-600g, this species is immediately recognizable by its striking grey head, vivid red orbital skin, and boldly barred black and white underparts contrasting with a browner, streaked back. Its stout red legs, often equipped with spurs in males, are another distinctive field mark. Taxonom...
Inhabits dry savannas, acacia woodlands, rocky hillsides, and thorny scrubland, typically found from lowlands up to 2,000 meters in elevation.
Primarily omnivorous, consuming a wide variety of seeds, tubers, roots, berries, and insects such as termites, ants, beetles, and their larvae, primarily foraging on the ground.
Clapperton's Spurfowl is largely diurnal, active during the cooler parts of the day, particularly crepuscularly, and roosts communally in dense bushes or trees at night. Foraging involves scratching and probing the ground for food, often in pairs or small family groups, moving stealthily through ...
Clapperton's Spurfowl is a resident species found across a broad swathe of East and Central Africa, with no significant migratory movements. Its distribution spans from eastern Chad and the Central African Republic eastward through Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and into northwestern Keny...
Least Concern
- Clapperton's Spurfowl is named after Hugh Clapperton, a Scottish explorer who was one of the first Europeans to cross much of central Africa. - Its loud, cackling call, often described as a 'chak-chak-chak-cha-kaaa-kaaa-kaaa!', can carry for surprising distances across the savanna. - Despite be...