Moorland Francolin
Encyclopedia
The Moorland Francolin (Scleroptila psilolaemus) is a species of bird
in the Phasianidae
family.
in the highlands of Ethiopia
, Kenya
, and Uganda
.
in the last two countries is sometimes known as the Elgon Francolin. Compared to the nominate subspecies of Ethiopia, the Elgon Francolin is brighter (more rufescent
) and lacks black spots to the throat, leading to conflicting taxonomic treatments. Though most authorities maintain it as a subspecies of the Moorland Francolin, it been suggested that it is a species (S. elgonensis), a subspecies of the Shelley's Francolin
(S. shelleyi elgonensis), or even a hybrid between the Moorland and Red-winged Francolin
s.
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
in the Phasianidae
Phasianidae
The Phasianidae is a family of birds which consists of the pheasants and partridges, including the junglefowl , Old World Quail, francolins, monals and peafowl. The family is a large one, and is occasionally broken up into two subfamilies, the Phasianinae, and the Perdicinae...
family.
Distribution
It is found in moorlandMoorland
Moorland or moor is a type of habitat, in the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome, found in upland areas, characterised by low-growing vegetation on acidic soils and heavy fog...
in the highlands of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, and Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
.
Taxonomy
The subspeciesSubspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
in the last two countries is sometimes known as the Elgon Francolin. Compared to the nominate subspecies of Ethiopia, the Elgon Francolin is brighter (more rufescent
Rufous
Rufous is a colour that may be described as reddish-brown or brownish-red, as of rust or oxidised iron.The first recorded use of rufous as a colour name in English was in the year 1782....
) and lacks black spots to the throat, leading to conflicting taxonomic treatments. Though most authorities maintain it as a subspecies of the Moorland Francolin, it been suggested that it is a species (S. elgonensis), a subspecies of the Shelley's Francolin
Shelley's Francolin
Shelley's Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family. The species is named after Sir Edward Shelley, cousin of George Ernest Shelley.-Distribution and habitat:...
(S. shelleyi elgonensis), or even a hybrid between the Moorland and Red-winged Francolin
Red-winged Francolin
The Red-winged Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family. It is found in Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.Elgon Francolin may be a hybrid between the Red-winged Francolin and...
s.