Search

Fifty-five Crested Francolins, Dendroperdix sephaena sephaena, were trapped, marked, retrapped and observed from 1984 to 1988 to assess and describe gender and age criteria based on morphological measurements and plumage characteristics on the farm La Boheme (Rustenburg, North West province, South Africa). The measurements and characteristics were compared with skin specimens of the other recognied subspecies endemic to Africa, namely D. s. zambesiae, D. s. grantii, D. s. spilogaster and D. s. rovuma. Selected biometric parameters of specimens were measured at the Ditsong Museum of Natural History and the American Museum of Natural History in 2014. The purpose of this study was to describe age categories (excluding chicks) with corresponding gender characteristics based on morphology and plumage features. This study revealed six definitive age/gender categories. A combination of spur length (or absence of long spurs in the case of females) and feather colouration patterns on the back, tail coverts, wing coverts and mantle are reliable indicators of different gender/age categories in all D. sephaena subspecies in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transect field observations were conducted on the behaviour of Crested FrancolinDendroperdix sephaenato describe male coalitions in the Borakalalo National Park, North West province, South Africa during May, August, October and December 2008, and again in July 2009. Crested Francolin form male coalitions following the breeding season in May. Young males leave their natal coveys and join old males in these coalitions, which are not based on kinship and consist of up to nine members. These coalitions are joined by a young female from June to October, followed by the breeding season when pairs replace coalitions. The coalition is a prelude to successful mating. The single female calls in the coalition, which triggers a cacophony, and her presence often erupts in physical conflicts between males. This cacophony is interpreted as signal jamming where males prevent one another from forming a duet with the female, clearly showing competition between them for winning over the female for mating. A well-synchronised duet forms the basis of pair formation. Old females are not particularly selected for pairing. The coalition is also a surrogate covey for young males because it optimises predator surveillance. The pair bond also optimises predator surveillance for each other throughout the year. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: This paper describes the chick plumage of spurfowl (Pternistis) and francolin (Francolinus, Dendroperdix, Peliperdix and Scleroptila) chicks, tests its significance for phylogenetic relationships and also explores the patterns of character evolution in the francolin and spurfowl lineages. Previously regarded as monophyletic, the two evolutionarily distant clades are now divided into five genera. Questions considered were whether chick plumage supports the dichotomy between spurfowls and francolins and what role habitat matching plays. Methods: The study was based mainly on photographs of chick skins from the American Museum of Natural History and the Natural History Museum at Tring. Eight plumage characters were selected for comparative scoring, summarised in a matrix. These characters were subsequently analysed phylogenetically and their evolution was traced on the existing molecular phylogeny using a parsimony approach. Results: Based on chick plumage the phylogeny of species groups among francolins and spurfowls, was largely unresolved possibly ascribed to a high degree of symplesiomorphy inherent among the Phasianids. This possibly could have resulted in a high degree of polytomy particularly among the spurfowls and francolins. Furthermore, the ancestral state reconstructions revealed high prevalence of symplesiomorphic states and reversals which do not help in the classification of groups. Although the differences are described that separate some African francolins from spurfowls, other francolins (in Asia and Africa) share remarkably similar characteristics with spurfowls. Plain dark dorsal plumage is probably advantageous for avoiding detection by predators in forests, while facial stripes optimise the breaking of body shapes in dense grass cover (as in Scleroptila spp.) and semi-striped faces are advantageous for stationary camouflage under tree and bush cover (as in Pternistis spp.). Conclusions: Although symplesiomorphy is a hereditary explanation for downy colours and patterns, the traits relevant for habitat matching are combined in a manner which is determined (adaptation) by natural selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fieldwork to study the vocal behaviour of Orange River FrancolinScleroptilia levaillantoideswas conducted on a farm in the Heidelberg district, Gauteng province, South Africa, during August 2009 to March 2011. Orange River Francolins possess a basic repertoire of seven calls and one mechanical sound. From 83 francolins tested with playback calls only 33 (39.7%) responded with call backs over the course of the study period. This low response rate in the population is ascribed to habituation because most of the coveys were tested repeatedly on a weekly basis. From a management point of view, call backs can be used to locate coveys in the grass that could then be approached, flushed and counted. Alternatively, it is possible to locate coveys with interactive sound equipment and then multiply the number of call-back localities with an average covey size (about two to three francolins) to determine the size of the population. A ‘ke-ri ke-chi’ playback call enticed three different calls from Orange River Francolins that can be used for management purposes, including the ‘ke-ri ke-chi’, cacophony and female calls. These three calls can be used to locate Orange River Francolins, determine dispersion, habitat preferences, breeding cycle and to identify subadults, males and females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]