Scleroptila afra
The Grey-winged Francolin, a striking gamebird endemic to Southern Africa, is a medium-sized species typically measuring 30-33 cm in length and weighing around 300-400 grams. Its most distinctive field marks include a grey head adorned with a prominent white supercilium and a characteristic rufous patch on the throat and sides of the neck. The upperparts are brownish-grey, finely barred, while the underparts are whitish with conspicuous dark streaking and spotting, providing excellent camoufl...
Found primarily in open, well-grazed grasslands, fynbos, and heathlands, often on montane plateaus and hillsides, typically above 1000 meters elevation.
Primarily granivorous, feeding on a diverse range of grass seeds and small grains; also consumes insects (especially termites, ants, beetles), tubers, and green plant shoots, particularly when breeding.
Grey-winged Francolins are diurnal, most active during the cooler hours of early morning and late afternoon, spending their nights roosting communally in dense cover. They forage by walking slowly, scratching the ground with their strong feet and pecking to uncover seeds and insects. During the b...
The Grey-winged Francolin is endemic to Southern Africa, with its primary distribution across South Africa and Lesotho. Within South Africa, its range is somewhat fragmented, encompassing suitable grassland and fynbos habitats from the Western Cape (notably the Cape Fold Mountains) eastward throu...
Least Concern
- The Grey-winged Francolin's distinctive call is phonetically translated by birders in Southern Africa as "I'll drink your BEER!" or "Come to the PARTY!", making it an easily recognizable sound of the highveld. - Unlike many other francolins, this species is often found at higher altitudes, inha...