Grey Francolin / Grey Partridge

Description:

The francolin is barred throughout and the face is pale with a thin black border to the pale throat. The only similar species is the Painted Francolin, which has a rufous vent. The male can have up to two spurs on the legs while females usually lack them. The nominate race in the southern peninsula of India has populations with a darker rufous throat, supercilium and is richer brown. They are weak fliers and fly short distances, escaping into undergrowth. In flight it shows a chestnut tail and dark primaries.

Habitat:

The Grey Francolin is normally found foraging on bare or low grass covered ground in scrub and open country, and is rarely found above an altitude of 500 m above sea level in India, and 1200 m in Pakistan. The distribution is south of the foothills of the Himalayas westwards to the Indus valley and eastwards to Bengal. It is also found in north-western Sri Lanka.