Djibouti Spurfowl Pternistis ochropectus Scientific name definitions

c. 33–36 cm; one male 809 g, one female 605 g. Adult has forehead, crown-sides, lores and head-sides blackish, crown orange-chestnut, ear-coverts grey, with whitish spot behind eye, lower head-sides rufous mottled pale buff, throat unstreaked pale buffish or yellowish, neck-sides, breast and most of underparts heavily streaked blackish and buff on whitish background, central belly and undertail-coverts paler (more intensely streaked whitish); upperparts dull grey-brown streaked rufous, contrasting slightly with paler primaries (in flight) and tail rufous-brown; bill dusky with yellowish-horn mandible, eyes brown, and legs and feet dull greyish yellow to yellowish orange. Smaller and darker above than P. erckelii; black bill and yellow legs separate from P. castaneicollis. Female smaller than male, with more rufous in tail, and spurs much reduced (male has two). Juvenile resembles female, but is barred buff and grey above (rather than streaked).

Djibouti: Forêt du Day (Day Forest), in Goda Mts, and Mabla Mts.

Occurs in primary juniper forest at 700–1500 m; main plant species are Juniperus procera, which may grow to 8 m tall, and Buxus hildebrandtii and Clutia abyssinica which make up the understorey. Elsewhere associated with Ficus, Acacia seyal and A. etbaica. Also found in secondary forest and may occur in degraded habitat. Probably roosts in trees.

Sedentary.

Seeds, berries and termites. Also feeds on figs at forest edge, where a parasitic Ficus occurs. When searching for food, rakes over ground, including areas disturbed by warthogs. Usually recorded in pairs or small groups, but up to 20 individuals have been recorded together.

Poorly known. Territorial call a loud “erk” followed by an accelerating series of repeated “kak” notes, fading to terminate in a chuckle. Similar to P. erckelii. A low conversational clucking has been noted from a feeding covey.

Probably monogamous. Season Dec–Feb; lays 7–9 eggs (according to local people); only nest discovered to date a shallow depression lined with grasses on a mountain ledge; family of nine individuals seen in Mar, a period when genets (Genetta genetta) are major predators, but juveniles have also been recorded as late as Jun. No further information available.

CRITICALLY ENDANGERED. Previously considered Endangered, but uplisted because of extremely small range, which is severely fragmented and continues to decline in both extent and quality, and within which the population is known to be decreasing. Total population estimated to be 200–500 mature individuals, based on surveys in 2007 and 2009. Endemic to Djibouti. Very limited range, with 3500 ha of habitat known at two sites: Forêt du Day in Goda Massif, and Mabla Mts, 80 km apart; there is a slight possibility of species occurring elsewhere. Main site is Forêt du Day in Goda Massif, which is now c. 1400–1500 ha in extent, having been reduced by 50% between 1977 and 1983, causing decline in population from 5600 to 1500 birds between 1978 and 1985 (1 McGowan, P.J.K., Dowell, S.D., Carroll, J.P. and Aebischer, N.J. (1995). Partridges, quails, francolins, snowcocks and guineafowl: status survey and conservation action plan 1995-1999 International Union for Nature Conservation and Natural Resources, Cambridge, UK. Close ). Detailed survey of Forêt du Day in 2007 calculated same population at 450 individuals (2 Fisher, Z.S.Y., Cartwright, S., Bealey, C., Rayaleh, H.A., McGowan, P. and Milner-Gulland, E.J. (2009). The Djibouti Francolin and juniper forest in Djibouti: the need for both ecosystem and species-specific conservation Oryx. 43(4): 542–551. Close ). A 2009 survey estimated the Mabla population to comprise 108 individuals, down from 200 in 1985. Total population now known to have declined by > 90% since 1980s. Civil war affected entire range in 1990s, but main threat is now habitat loss due to grazing by cattle, camels and goats. Even where preferred habitat of plateau juniper (Juniperus) forest persists, over half of trees have been found to be dead and rest in poor condition (2 Fisher, Z.S.Y., Cartwright, S., Bealey, C., Rayaleh, H.A., McGowan, P. and Milner-Gulland, E.J. (2009). The Djibouti Francolin and juniper forest in Djibouti: the need for both ecosystem and species-specific conservation Oryx. 43(4): 542–551. Close ). Curiously, however, juniper largely absent from Mabla Mts. Firewood collection, hunting and harvesting of eggs are also documented as threats. Forêt du Day was declared a c. 100 km² national park in 1939, but this is apparently ineffective and requires proper implemented. Designation of Mabla Mts as a protected area is desirable, in conjunction with appropriate management and environmental education. At minimum grazing should be limited within areas of juniper regeneration and high abundance of P. ochropectus (2 Fisher, Z.S.Y., Cartwright, S., Bealey, C., Rayaleh, H.A., McGowan, P. and Milner-Gulland, E.J. (2009). The Djibouti Francolin and juniper forest in Djibouti: the need for both ecosystem and species-specific conservation Oryx. 43(4): 542–551. Close ). Extensive survey of all known and possible localities within range required, to determine precise numbers; research into ecological requirements also necessary, to understand habitat limitations; and a Population and Habitat Viability Assessment is needed too.