Crested francolin

Scientific name: Dendroperdix sephaena

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Compact gamebird with dark grey-brown upperparts and rufous underparts; distinctive crest on crown is raised when alarmed. Males slightly larger and more richly coloured than females; sexes otherwise similar.

Size and weight

Males 28–30 cm, 240–280 g; females 26–28 cm, 200–240 g.

Habitat

Inhabits open and semi-open savanna, grassland edges, and thornbush country, typically from sea level to 2,000 m elevation. Prefers areas with scattered trees and dense ground cover.

Distribution

Range spans sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south to northern South Africa. Found in grasslands and open savanna where rainfall is moderate.

Diet

Forages primarily on seeds, fallen grain, and small invertebrates; seasonally exploits berries and termites when abundant.

Behaviour

Crepuscular and diurnal, most active at dawn and dusk. Highly terrestrial, runs rather than flies when flushed; solitary or in pairs except during breeding season when monogamous pairs hold territories.

Hunting tips

Look for paired birds calling from open ground in early morning; tracks are small and direct in sandy soil. Approach upwind through cover to within flushing range; birds typically burst upward with loud calls before flying low. Drive techniques through grassland are effective when birds are pinned by cover boundaries.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 7 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.