Black Francolin. (Francolinus francolinus)
- The Black Francolin, earlier also called the Black Partridge belongs to the Pheasant family.
- It appears different from the Black Partridge Melanoperdix niger.
- About 33-36 cm in length, the bird may weigh about 453 grams. The wings span may spread from 50 to 55 cm.
- The species is dimorphic with the male being conspicuously black with a white patch on the cheek, a chestnut-coloured collar and white spots on the flanks.
- This specimen here is a male observed in the grasslands of the Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand, India.
- The bird generally survives for 6-7 years in captivity.
- The female is duller mainly brown, very slightly smaller with a chestnut hind neck. The black of the male is replaced by mottled brown. There is no white cheek patch.
- The tail in both sexes is rounded and short. Beak is curved and strong. The legs are also strong.
- The species has been reported from India, Bhutan, Nepal, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Geogia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Pakistan, Palestine, Syria, Turkey and Turkmenistan.
- These birds live in habitats with plenty of scrub and suitably tall cultivated crops which are open beneath. This provides shelter and escape routes also. They are fast runners.
- They are not forest birds but, as in the present case, may inhabit scrubland and forest edges with grassland.
- They are not very social but may prefer to stay solitary, in pairs or in small family groups foraging on the ground or from low tree branches near the ground. They have an explosive flight and may fly only when disturbed. Flights are short.
- The call of these birds, allowed ringing (creaking) can be heard morning and evening. A male bird may call almost all day during the breeding season.
- The male calls while standing on earth mounds, bunds, rocks, tree stumps or low tree branches.
- The birds are omnivorous and may feed on grain, grass seeds, fallen berries, shoots, tubers, termites and ants.
- Black francolins are monogamous, nesting in tall grass lands from late March to May. They breed during first year after hatching most likely once every year. Male calls can be heard day long during the nesting season. The female may produce 7 to 10 eggs at one day interval in nests on shallow scrapes or depressions on ground, either lined or unlined with twigs/grasses etc. Both parents look after the chicks which stay with their parents through their first winter. Incubation is entirely by the female.
- In India it is the State Bird of Haryana.
- It is a stable species and classified as a species of least concern but the drastic reduction in numbers in some areas indicates that the population should be monitored. The hunting and keeping of this bird are banned in India since the Wild Life Protection Act 1972.
- Sources:
- Birds of the wild
- Animalia
- Salim Ali. The book of Indian Birds.
©Srimaa Communication
Credits- Dr. Yashpal Singh, Mrs. Neena Singh, Mr. Rajesh Bedi, Manoj Kumar Yadav