Family Pheasants, Partridges, Turkeys, Grouse (Phasianidae)

Least Concern

Painted Francolin (Francolinus pictus)

figure, drawing, illustration of Painted Francolin (Francolinus pictus)

Taxonomy

French: Francolin peint German: Tropfenfrankolin Spanish: Francolín pintojo
Taxonomy:

Perdix picta

Jardine and Selby

, 1828,

Bangalore, India

.

Present species, F. francolinus and F. pintadeanus appear to form a group of closely related species; hybridization with F. francolinus occurs in areas of contact. Race pallidus possibly represents only one extreme of clinal variation#R. Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution
  • F. p. pallidus (J. E. Gray, 1831) – NC India (S & E Gujarat, C Rajasthan, S Uttar Pradesh and N Madhya Pradesh) S to c. 20° N.
  • F. p. pictus (Jardine & Selby, 1828) – C & S India N to c. 20° N.
  • F. p. watsoni Legge, 1880 – Uva Province, in E Sri Lanka.

    • Descriptive notes

    c. 31–32 cm; 242–340 g. Both sexes like female F. francolinus, but differ in lack of chestnut collar, have brighter rufous face and throat, no dark... read more

    Voice

    Considered to be less vocal than F. francolinus. Territorial call, regularly repeated (... read more

    Habitat

    Inhabits mosaic of grassland and cultivation with scattered bushes on rolling hills, intersected... read more

    Food and feeding

    Seeds of grasses, weeds and cereals, and fresh grass and cereal shoots, berries and drupes, such as Zizyphus; also termites and... read more

    Breeding

    Nesting believed to coincide with rains in India, in Jun–Oct, but Apr–Jun also reported; in Sri Lanka, Mar–Jun. Probably... read more

    Movements

    Sedentary. When being searched for, sits very tight until suddenly bursts into flight on rapid... read more

    Status and conservation

    Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Mace Lande: pictus/pallidus safe; watsoni vulnerable. No information on current status of watsoni... read more

    Recommended citation

    McGowan, P.J.K. & Kirwan, G.M. (2019). Painted Francolin (Francolinus pictus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/53387 on 24 February 2019).