Family New World Quails (Odontophoridae)
Vulnerable
Nahan's Partridge (Ptilopachus nahani)
Taxonomy
French: Poulette de Nahan German: Nahanwachtel Spanish: Gallinita de Nahan
Other common names:
Nahan's Francolin,
Nahan's Spurfowl
Taxonomy:
Francolinus nahani
A. J. C. Dubois
, 1905,Popoie, Aruwimi River, DRCongo
.Distribution:
NE DRCongo (area bordered by R Aruwimi, R Nepoko and R Semliki) and W & SC Uganda (forests of Budongo, Bugoma and Mabira).
Descriptive notes
23–26 cm; two males 308 g and 312 g, three females 234–260 g. Unspurred; distinctive combination of bare red skin around eyes, red base of bill, mostly white... read more
Voice
Territorial call a long series of melodious whistles, gradually increasing in volume and the notes... read more
Habitat
Inhabits dense primary forest (both logged and unlogged), preferring riverine or swampy areas... read more
Food and feeding
Varied diet, including invertebrates (insects and small molluscs), shoots, seeds (e.g. of Trema orientalis and Measopsis... read more
Breeding
Believed to breed year-round, but most egg-laying is between Jan and Mar and Aug to Nov (based on 60 nests), with birds in breeding... read more
Movements
Sedentary, although birds are suspected to have home ranges of at least 13 ha.
Status and conservation
VULNERABLE. Overall population estimated at 50,000–99,999 birds, with perhaps 40,000 individuals in Uganda in the early 2000s. Presumed to be declining due to loss of... read more
Formerly placed in monotypic genus Acentrortyx. Subsequently returned to genus Francolinus, and later thought to belong in Pternistes#R. Recent genetic analysis revealed, surprisingly, a sister relationship between this species and P. petrosus, and hitherto unrecognized vocal and behavioural similarities between the two support the genetic data and the transfer of nahani to genus Ptilopachus#R#R. Monotypic.