Erckel's Francolin

Overview

Erckel's Francolin: Introduced to Hawaii in 1957. Gray-brown overall with heavy streaks. Chestnut cap, black eye-stripe and forehead, gray cheeks, light buff to white throat. Gray back, tail and wings have fine brown bars. Black bill, yellow-gray legs and feet. Flight is low and fast.

Range and Habitat

Erckel's Francolin: Found on Kauai, Oahu, Hawaii, and Lanai. Native to Ethiopia, Sudan, and Eritrea. Prefers grasslands, scrub and brush.

INTERESTING FACTS

The Erckel's Francolin was first described in 1835 by the German naturalist Wilhelm Ruepell.
It is adapted for running, and will usually run for cover rather than fly away when startled.
Erckel, Black, and Gray Francolins were all imported and released in several states during the 1950s and 1960s. The mainland populations did not survive, while all three francolin species thrived in Hawaii.
A group of pheasants has many collective nouns, including a "bouquet", "brace", "plume", "plump", and "trip" of pheasants.

Erckel’s Francolin is a native, non-migratory resident of Ethiopia, Eritrea, and a small area in Northern Sudan. It has also been successfully introduced to parts of Italy and the Hawaiian Islands of Lanai, Kauai, Oahu, and Hawaii. Throughout its range, this terrestrial species occurs in grasslands and brushy habitats where it feeds on seeds and invertebrates. Although it has a fairly limited distribution and its population size is unknown, this species is common in many parts of its range and has been given a conservation rating of Least Concern by the IUCN.