Shelley's francolin
Scientific name: Scleroptila shelleyi
- How weight is recorded: Whole weight
Field notes
Appearance
A dark, compact francolin with rufous underparts and barred plumage. Males are larger and more heavily built than females; both sexes show dark heads with pale eyebrow stripes and red facial skin.
Size and weight
Males 28–32 cm, 280–350 g; females 26–29 cm, 240–300 g.
Habitat
Shelley's francolin inhabits highland grasslands, open woodland, and scrubland between 1,500–3,500 m elevation. Prefers areas with scattered trees and dense grass cover near water sources.
Distribution
Endemic to highland regions of Kenya and northern Tanzania, occurring in isolated montane forests and adjacent grasslands above 1,500 m.
Diet
Primarily seeds, insects, and invertebrates; forages by scratching in leaf litter and short grass, with increased focus on insects during wet seasons.
Behaviour
Diurnal and crepuscular, most vocal at dawn. Pairs or small groups; runs rather than flies when flushed, preferring to escape through dense vegetation. Keeps to regular feeding and roosting areas.
Hunting tips
Look for scratch marks and droppings in short grass and disturbed leaf litter near dawn. Approach from downwind, moving slowly through cover and listening for alarm calls. Use terrain folds and vegetation to close distance; birds often freeze before running upslope.
Whole weight
This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.
Where it is hunted
Listed as huntable in 1 country in Huntify.
Names in other languages
Current language: en
These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.