Crested Francolin on Mount Kilimanjaro

The Crested Francolin is a medium-sized African gamebird belonging to the pheasant family, Phasianidae. It is recognised by its small raised dark crest, broad white eyebrow stripe, white throat, patterned brown body and habit of holding its tail upwards while walking.

The currently accepted scientific name is Ortygornis sephaena. It belongs to the order Galliformes and the family Phasianidae. The older combination Dendroperdix sephaena is still used in some older references.

The bird receives its common name from the small dark crest of feathers on its crown. The feathers can be raised when the bird becomes alert or excited.

The Crested Francolin is approximately 33 centimetres long, with published references giving a broader range of approximately 30-35 centimetres.

It has a dark brown crown, broad white eyebrow, dark eye stripe and white throat. Its upperparts are brown with conspicuous white shaft streaks, the breast carries dark brown spots against a creamy background, and the legs are red.

The Crested Francolin has a characteristic habit of holding its tail cocked upwards, especially while walking or running away from disturbance.

Adult males generally have bolder plumage and a prominent upcurved spur on the lower leg. Females are duller and lack the long developed spur found in adult males.

The species occurs across parts of eastern and southern Africa, including Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Yes. Photographic records document the Crested Francolin in Tarangire and Mkomazi National Parks, and the species is also included in the Kilimanjaro National Park bird checklist.

Yes. The Crested Francolin is included in the Kilimanjaro National Park bird checklist, although the checklist does not provide precise trekking-route sighting locations.

The available checklist confirms the species at park level but does not identify a particular trekking route. The Marangu, Machame, Lemosho, Rongai, Northern Circuit, Umbwe and Shira routes should not be presented as confirmed regular sighting trails without further field records.

It prefers thorny savanna, dense scrub, bushveld, mixed woodland, mopane woodland and riverine vegetation. Areas with sufficient bushes and undergrowth are particularly important.

The Crested Francolin has an omnivorous diet that includes seeds, fruits, berries, roots, bulbs, tubers, leaves, shoots, termites and other insects.

Its call is a loud, rattling duet often represented as "chee-kerrie-chee-kerrie-chee". The call is often produced by pairs, with one bird answering another.

Early morning and late afternoon are particularly useful because the species is often vocal around dawn and dusk.

No. The species is generally regarded as resident and non-migratory across its established range.

The Crested Francolin is a ground-nesting bird. The female lays approximately three to seven eggs in a shallow nest scrape concealed among grass or shrubs.

The chicks are precocial and may leave the nest within approximately two hours after hatching. Both parents subsequently care for them.

No. The species is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, with a stable global population trend.

It may occur in wooded environments, particularly where dense shrubs and undergrowth provide sufficient cover. However, it is more strongly associated with savanna, thornveld, bushveld, woodland and riverine vegetation.

Yes. Photographic records document the Crested Francolin in Tarangire National Park.

Yes. Photographic records also document the species in Mkomazi National Park in northeastern Tanzania.

The bird relies mainly on camouflage and dense vegetation. When threatened, it usually runs rapidly into bushes or thickets, or takes a short flight to nearby cover.

The species has a global conservation status of Least Concern. A separate Kilimanjaro-specific threatened status has not been established.

Yes. A telephoto lens and patient observation can help capture clear images without disturbing the bird.

No. Wild bird sightings depend on natural movements, habitat conditions, weather and other factors.

Yes. Tanzania supports a remarkable variety of birds across its mountain forests, savannas, woodlands, wetlands and other natural environments.