Schlegel's Francolin Campocolinus schlegelii Scientific name definitions

21–25 cm (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); male c. 251 g, female c. 223 g. A small francolin with a mainly rusty-orange or rufous-yellow head contrasting with dusky-brown crown and eyestripe . Usually more rufous than P. coqui (no overlap) (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) and lacks white throat of C. albogularis (narrow overlap in Cameroon) (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), which also shows rufous primaries in flight (duller brown in present species, whereas rest of wing is more rufous) (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Female has browner and more black-blotched (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) back with narrower creamy streaking; also irregular belly markings that appear mottled (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Bill black with yellow base, irides brown and legs yellow; male has single spur, whereas female is virtually unspurred (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Juvenile similar to adult female, with rufous- and black-barred scapulars and mantle.

Closely related to P. coqui and C. albogularis; previously considered a race of former. Proposed race confusus (Cameroon) considered invalid. Monotypic.

WC Cameroon E through N Central African Republic and S Chad to W South Sudan.

Savanna woodland, at least in Sudan (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) especially where tree Isoberlinia doka (Fabaceae) is numerous and grass cover plentiful. Not found near human settlements, but occasionally visits cultivated edges (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Sedentary. Flies only short distances, remaining silent in process.

Takes leaves of Isoberlinia doka from ground, and seeds of grass and grain; also feeds on caterpillars. Usually observed in pairs or small family parties (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Advertising call, which resembles that of P. coqui and C. albogularis but is faster and lower-pitched, is considered trumpet-like and rendered “ter, ink, terra” (2 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ) or “KWEEK! kre-kre-krekrekrekew”, the first note loudest, the rest accelerating, becoming more grating and fading at end (3 Borrow, N., and R. Demey (2001). Birds of Western Africa. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); also reported to give a soft “korrr-korrr-korrr”, especially towards dusk (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

In Sudan lays in Sept–Nov. Probably monogamous, as typically observed in pairs during breeding season (2 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ). Nest a slight hollow lined with grass, leaves, etc. Usually lays 2–5 cream-coloured (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) eggs, size 33–38 mm × 24–28 mm (2 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ); one record of ten eggs is probably erroneous or the result of two females laying in same nest (2 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ). No further information available.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Mace Lande: insufficient information. Range estimated at c. 550,000 km². Considered a candidate for inclusion in Red Data Book in 1985. A very poorly known species, appears usually to stay far from human settlements. No surveys have been conducted and there is little recent information, but species is generally regarded as uncommon to rare and local. Possible threats are not documented. Extensive surveys required throughout range. It may prove necessary to manage the savanna habitat in some areas.