Double-spurred Francolin

(Francolinus bicalcaratus)

• Avicultural Data
• Images
• Bibliography
• Links

Other Names: Pternistis bicalcaratus

Range: Western Africa.

Subspecies: F. b. bicalcaratus, F. b. ayesha (Morocco, larger and darker than nominate)

Habitat: Forests.

Status in Wild: Considered the most common francolin in western Africa, but ayesha in Morocco is now endangered,

Avicultural Data

Status in Aviculture: Reviewing classified ads in the Gazette and other publications, this species seemed to be quite common in the US during the 1950s through the 1970s. There popularity during that stretch seemd to rival that as the Erckel's Francolin as the most common francolin in collections. However, in what has seemed to a common theme with a number of francolin and partridge species, a decline occurred in the late 1970s and 1980s and since this inception of this site in 1997, I have not seen any listed for sale or heard of anyone keeping this species in North America. There are a few birds seen in European aviaries, but I am not sure how widely kept or popular they are.

Click on thumbnails for larger views.

Photo Credits
(l to r): 1-2, Carl Garnham.

• Johnsgard, P.A. 1988. The Quails, Partridges, and Francolins of the World. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
• Madge, S., McGowan, P. 2002. Pheasants, Partridges, and Grouse. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ.
• Robbins, G.E.S. 1998. Partridges & Francolins, their Conservation, Breeding & Management. World Pheasant Association.
• Sinclair, I., Ryan, P. 2003. Birds of Africa, South of the Sahara. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ.

Links related to this species. Please note, links will open in a new window.

• Double-spurred Francolin - African Bird Image Database by African Bird Club/Birding Africa.
• Double-spurred Francolin - Mangoverde World Bird Guide Species Page; Images & Sounds.
• Francolinus bicalcaratus Images - Images of this species located at the Phasianidae group on flickr.
• Wikipedia - Double-spurred Francolin - Wikipedia's species page.