Moorland francolin

The moorland francolin (Scleroptila psilolaema) is a species of bird in the family Phasianidae.

Moorland francolin
Illustration of S. p. psilolaema by Joseph Smit, 1893
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Genus: Scleroptila
Species:
S. psilolaemus
Binomial name
Scleroptila psilolaemus
(Gray, 1867)
Synonyms
  • Francolinus psilolaemus
  • Scleroptila psilolaemus

Distribution

It is found in moorland in the highlands of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda.

Taxonomy

In Kenya and Uganda, the subspecies 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.[2] 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),[2] or even a hybrid between the moorland and red-winged francolins.[3]

References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Scleroptila psilolaema". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. McGowan, P. J. K. (1994). Moorland Francolin (Francolinus elgonensis). Pp. 494 in: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., & Sargatal, J. eds. (1994). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 2. New World Vultures to Guineafowl. Lynx Edicions, Barcelon. ISBN 84-87334-15-6
  3. McCarthy, Eugene M. (2006). Handbook of avian hybrids of the world. Oxford University Press US. p. 50. ISBN 978-0-19-518323-8.


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