Chinese Francolin

(Francolinus pintadeanus)

• Avicultural Data
• Images
• Bibliography
• Links

Other Names: Burmese Francolin, Chinese Partridge

Subspecies/Range: F. p. pintadeanus - Southeastern China, Hainan Island; F. p. phayrei - India, Burma, Thailand and eastern Indochina.

Habitat: Grassy openings in the scrub and forests.

Brief Description: Rivals the Black Francolin as the most attractive Asian francolin, for which it bears a some resemblance. Males have a white cheek-patch that extends beneath the eye and a white throat which separated by a black bar; a black bar has separates the white cheek-patch from a rufous stripe that extends above the eye to back of the head; overall body plumage mottled black and white. Females similar to male, but duller and lack spurs.

Status in Wild: Locally common.

Avicultural Data

Status in Aviculture: Unknown; was once seen (like other francolins) in American aviaries, but has since disappeared. The last record I could find was an article in an early 1980s issue of the Gazette regarding some new lines imported.

Rather the following be a false rumor or the truth, it is a troubling statement and I heard from a reputable source. In the many years of research and networking for this site and my own collection, I often would ask long-time breeders about "lost" species such as the Chinese Francolin. In 2004, a well-known North American pheasant keeper mentioned to me that he knew of another well-known breeder (the name was not given to me in the conversation) that had reared many Chinese Francolin, but was "unable to get the right price" for the offspring and "would rather knock them them in the head". I was told that he still has several in his freezer. I was shocked at the statement, but such an attitude is extremely prevalent in aviculture and this species may be lost in American aviculture thanks to this sheer disregard for conservation aviculture.

Click on thumbnails for larger views.

Photo Credits
(l to r): .

Any help with photos would be greatly appreciated; e-mail dan@animalwonders.net if you can help.

• 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.
• Robson, C. 2002. Birds of Thailand. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ.

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

• Chinese Francolin - The Oriental Bird Club Image Database.
• Francolinus pintadeanus Images - Images of this species located at the Phasianidae group on flickr.
• Wikipedia - Chinese Francolin - Wikipedia's species page.