Campocolinus coqui
The Coqui Francolin (Campocolinus coqui) is a small, cryptically plumaged gamebird indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa, a true master of camouflage in its savanna and grassland habitats. Measuring 19-23 cm in length and weighing between 170-280g, it exhibits an intricate pattern of browns, buffs, and black streaking across its plumage. Males are typically slightly larger and can display more defined facial markings than the duller females, though sexual dimorphism is subtle. Its most distinctive...
This francolin primarily inhabits open dry habitats including grasslands, savannas, open woodlands, and scrubland, often with scattered bushes for cover. It is found from sea level up to elevations of approximately 2000 meters across its African range.
The diet of the Coqui Francolin consists predominantly of small invertebrates, including termites, ants, beetles, and caterpillars, supplemented by seeds, grass shoots, and small tubers. Foraging involves scratching and pecking the ground.
Coqui Francolins are diurnal birds, most active during the cooler parts of the day, particularly early mornings and late afternoons, when their distinctive calls resonate across the savanna. They typically roost communally at night in dense clumps of grass or under low bushes to avoid predators. ...
The Coqui Francolin boasts an extensive, though somewhat fragmented, distribution across sub-Saharan Africa. Its range stretches from Senegal and Guinea-Bissau in West Africa, eastward through the Sahel to Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia, and then south through East and Central Africa into Southern ...
Least Concern
- The Coqui Francolin is named after its distinctive, loud, two-part call, which sounds like "co-QUI! - These birds are masters of camouflage, making them incredibly difficult to spot in their grassland habitats despite their common presence. - Their chicks are precocial, meaning they are born re...