Yellow-necked Spurfowl

Francolinus leucoscepus

Other Names

  Yellow-necked Francolin   Francolin à cou jaune   Gelbkehlfrankolin   Francolín Gorgiamarillo   Gulstrupig sporrhöna   Geelkeelfrankolijn   Francolino dalla gola nuda

World: NE Africa in Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda

Kenya: Widespread and common in bushed grasslands, scrubland around watercourses and also cultivation. Absent from the southern coastal lowlands where it is replaced by the Red-necked Spurfowl. However in other parts of the country the ranges of the 2 species overlap

This is a common, distinctive, noisy bird which is most active at dawn and dusk. They are generally found in pairs or small groups often on dirt roads. The males are often seen (and heard) calling from the top of termite mounds or large rocks.

The only similar species in Kenya is the Red-necked Spurfowl, but the throat colour (bright yellow in the Yellow-necked and red in the Red-necked) is a clear distinguishing feature