Swainson's Spurfowl Pternistis swainsonii Scientific name definitions

Male c. 38 cm, female c. 33 cm; male 400–875 g, female 340–750 g. Blackish upper mandible and legs prevent confusion with P. afer and other bare-throated francolins; often associates with P. afer, P. natalensis and P. adspersus (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Female smaller, darker and more heavily patterned than male (vermiculated dark brown above and partially barred over mantle, rump, upperwing-coverts and scapulars ) (2 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ); spurs much reduced or completely lacking (male has 1–2 spurs ) (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Juvenile paler and duller with yellowish-brown legs and yellow-based dark bill (2 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ); similar to those of P. afer but generally above (2 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ). Races are considered rather poorly defined: populations in N Namibia, Botswana and W Zimbabwe vary locally and have characters resembling those of both accepted races; birds in Namibia and Botswana more closely resemble race <em>swainsonii</em> , while those of Zimbabwe seem closer to lundazi; race lundazi on average smaller (wing of male 187–197 mm versus 172–208 mm) (2 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ), paler (more buffy brown) and less spotted below (2 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ).

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Savanna and bush, not far from water; prefers dense grassland near grain fields, sorghum and water, but also found in country with good cover; sometimes at forest edge or in forest, and especially in grass along watercourses. In South Africa, occurs especially in dense grassland close to water and farmland on moist clay floodplains (7 van Niekerk, J.H. (2004). Ecology and dispersion of Swainson’s Spurfowl, Pternistis swainsonii, introduced to a modified habitat in the Heidelberg district, Gauteng Province, South Africa. Ostrich. 75(3): 178–180. Close ); in Zimbabwe, favours thickets at forest edge and along streams. More dependant on water  than most other African francolins. Recorded to 1600 m in Zambia (8 Dowsett, R. J., D. R. Aspinwall, and F. Dowsett-Lemaire (2008). The Birds of Zambia. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ) and at c. 1100 m in Malawi (9 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2006). The Birds of Malawi: An Atlas and Handbook. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ).

Sedentary, with very little evidence of much dispersal, even by juveniles, during South African study (10 van Niekerk, J.H. (2011). Habitat-use and range contraction of Swainson’s Spurfowl at the Krugersdorp Game Reserve, Gauteng province, South Africa. Ostrich. 82(1): 43–47. Close ). Prefers to escape predators by running, but is a fast flier and can avoid raptors when on the wing.

Bulbs, tubers and roots, seeds, berries and grass leaves, together with some spiders and insects, including locusts, ticks, beetles and grasshoppers, and small molluscs. Grain crops also taken, especially fresh maize sprouts. In Transvaal: 30% maize, wheat and beans and other crops; 25% seeds of native plants, mainly pioneer grasses such as Urochloa, Eleusine, Panicum and Digitaria, as well as Juncus and Concorus; 14% roots and corms, predominantly Cyperus; 7% arthropods; and 2% green leaves. In summer arthropods constitute up to 20% of crop weight; in winter and spring feeds mostly on cultivated crops. Feeds and drinks in early morning and late afternoon, and prefers areas of damp soil for feeding. Mean group size at a study site in South Africa was 3·58 (range 1–13) (11 van Niekerk, J.H. (2002). Notes on territoriality and pair-formation in two juvenile Swainson’s Francolins. Ostrich. 73(1–2): 61. Close ).

Most vocal early morning and late afternoon, calling from elevated perch (e.g. termite mound or low branch) (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Advertising call of male similar to that of P. afer but usually higher-pitched, a hoarse, deep, rasping croak “kwaaark, ker-dowaaark, dowaaark” or a “kowaaark, kwarrk, kwarrk, kwaarrk, krrk, krrr” that descends in pitch and declines in volume towards terminus; female sometimes responds with a “kwee ke-ke-kwe” likened to the sound of a human baby (2 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ). Clucking notes given while feeding and a “qua-qua-qua-qua-quak” in flight; juveniles give mewing call in presence of adults (2 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ).

Lays in all months depending on locality, but onset of breeding often appears associated with rainfall (12 Jansen R. and Crowe, T.M. (2005). Relationship between breeding activity and rainfall for Swainson’s Spurfowl, Pternistis swainsonii, within southern Africa, with specific reference to the Springbok Flats, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Ostrich. 76(3–4): 190–194. Close ): in South Africa Dec–May (peak Jan–Apr) (12 Jansen R. and Crowe, T.M. (2005). Relationship between breeding activity and rainfall for Swainson’s Spurfowl, Pternistis swainsonii, within southern Africa, with specific reference to the Springbok Flats, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Ostrich. 76(3–4): 190–194. Close ), sometimes any month, or even twice in one year; during at least part of period Feb–May in Swaziland, Botswana and Namibia; Nov–Aug (mainly Feb–Mar) in Zimbabwe; recorded at various times of year in Mozambique; all months, mainly Feb–Jun, in Zambia (8 Dowsett, R. J., D. R. Aspinwall, and F. Dowsett-Lemaire (2008). The Birds of Zambia. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ). Monogamous and territorial, with small territories of c. 3 ha (12 Jansen R. and Crowe, T.M. (2005). Relationship between breeding activity and rainfall for Swainson’s Spurfowl, Pternistis swainsonii, within southern Africa, with specific reference to the Springbok Flats, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Ostrich. 76(3–4): 190–194. Close ). Nest is a hollow on ground (170–180 mm diameter and 50–60 mm deep) (12 Jansen R. and Crowe, T.M. (2005). Relationship between breeding activity and rainfall for Swainson’s Spurfowl, Pternistis swainsonii, within southern Africa, with specific reference to the Springbok Flats, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Ostrich. 76(3–4): 190–194. Close ) lined with grass, leaves and similar material, concealed amongst cover. Usually 4–8 (3–9) (13 Tarboton, W. (2001). A Guide to the Nests and Eggs of Southern African Birds. Struik Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa. Close ) cream to pinkish-buff eggs (2 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ) (one clutch of 12 recorded (2 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ), with mean of 5·2 eggs in South African study) (12 Jansen R. and Crowe, T.M. (2005). Relationship between breeding activity and rainfall for Swainson’s Spurfowl, Pternistis swainsonii, within southern Africa, with specific reference to the Springbok Flats, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Ostrich. 76(3–4): 190–194. Close ), 39–48·2 mm × 32–38·3 mm (2 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ); incubation c. 21–23 days (13 Tarboton, W. (2001). A Guide to the Nests and Eggs of Southern African Birds. Struik Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa. Close ), probably by female alone (2 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ); downy chicks have dark, rich brown broad central stripe above, and buffy underparts; provisioned by both sexes (although evidence from South Africa suggests female participation is by greater) (11 van Niekerk, J.H. (2002). Notes on territoriality and pair-formation in two juvenile Swainson’s Francolins. Ostrich. 73(1–2): 61. Close ) and capable of short flights at c. 10 days, but fully grown only at 3–4 months (13 Tarboton, W. (2001). A Guide to the Nests and Eggs of Southern African Birds. Struik Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa. Close ). Perhaps double-brooded in South Africa (2 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ), but no reliable evidence published to substantiate this surmise (12 Jansen R. and Crowe, T.M. (2005). Relationship between breeding activity and rainfall for Swainson’s Spurfowl, Pternistis swainsonii, within southern Africa, with specific reference to the Springbok Flats, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Ostrich. 76(3–4): 190–194. Close ). Survival rate believed to be high, with mean of c. 6 chicks in broods in Transvaal, and hatching success and chick  survival of 69·4% over S African sub-region (12 Jansen R. and Crowe, T.M. (2005). Relationship between breeding activity and rainfall for Swainson’s Spurfowl, Pternistis swainsonii, within southern Africa, with specific reference to the Springbok Flats, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Ostrich. 76(3–4): 190–194. Close ); predators include monitor lizards, mongooses, snakes, baboons and Southern Ground-hornbills (Bucorvus leadbeateri) (2 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ). Birds c. 10 months old engage in courtship behaviour (10 van Niekerk, J.H. (2011). Habitat-use and range contraction of Swainson’s Spurfowl at the Krugersdorp Game Reserve, Gauteng province, South Africa. Ostrich. 82(1): 43–47. Close ) and pair-bonds may form at c. 12 months (11 van Niekerk, J.H. (2002). Notes on territoriality and pair-formation in two juvenile Swainson’s Francolins. Ostrich. 73(1–2): 61. Close ).

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Mace Lande: safe. Occurs in suitable habitat throughout c. 1,550,000 km². Generally common to abundant over much of range, with a density of 1·25 individuals/ha near Johannesburg (7 van Niekerk, J.H. (2004). Ecology and dispersion of Swainson’s Spurfowl, Pternistis swainsonii, introduced to a modified habitat in the Heidelberg district, Gauteng Province, South Africa. Ostrich. 75(3): 178–180. Close ). Possibly more than 1,000,000 birds in South Africa where numbers are overall stable and range increasing southward; occurs in several protected areas, but likely to survive outside such areas without special protection. Nevertheless, local declines reported, even here, e.g. in Krugersdorp Game Reserve, where gradual replacement of weedy plants with grasses has not favoured the species and has led to a loss of habitat available to the species (10 van Niekerk, J.H. (2011). Habitat-use and range contraction of Swainson’s Spurfowl at the Krugersdorp Game Reserve, Gauteng province, South Africa. Ostrich. 82(1): 43–47. Close ). In Malawi, at NE edge of species’ range, confined to small part of Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve (9 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2006). The Birds of Malawi: An Atlas and Handbook. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ). Moves into cultivation and has even displaced P. afer in farmland around Harare, NE Zimbabwe, and also reported to have increased in Natal (2 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ), but will disappear or decline in areas where horticultural land is left to lie fallow for 10–20 years (10 van Niekerk, J.H. (2011). Habitat-use and range contraction of Swainson’s Spurfowl at the Krugersdorp Game Reserve, Gauteng province, South Africa. Ostrich. 82(1): 43–47. Close ). During 1972 season, c. 6700 individuals were shot in Zimbabwe; recommendation that shooting should now be restricted to period Aug–Nov. Hunting season for this species in South Africa is Jun–Oct and in Botswana Aug–Nov (12 Jansen R. and Crowe, T.M. (2005). Relationship between breeding activity and rainfall for Swainson’s Spurfowl, Pternistis swainsonii, within southern Africa, with specific reference to the Springbok Flats, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Ostrich. 76(3–4): 190–194. Close ). Otherwise not in need of conservation attention.