IN this edition, we look at a cantankerous species that is best known for its noisy screeching when disturbed – the Natal Spurfowl.
Also read: Chirping with Kloof Conservancy – the Grey Heron
Description
The Natal Spurfowl is a medium-sized Francolin standing at 34cm with a weight of approximately 500g for males and approximately 400g for females. It is brownish in colour with a bright orange-red bill and yellow nostrils. The underpart feathers are elegantly patterned in a mix of dark and light brown with black edging giving a scaled appearance. The back is a mottled brown. The legs and feet are a bright orange.
Males and females are identical in appearance, and they can easily be distinguished from all other Spurfowl by the lack of bare skin around the eyes and throat which are common on other members of the species.
Distribution
The Natal Spurfowl is found throughout KwaZulu-Natal and in the northern and central provinces of South Africa. It is not found in the Western or Eastern Cape nor in the dry western parts of South Africa.
Habitat
This bird is found mainly in grasslands but will also be found in forest edges or thickets.
Feeding
Natal Spurfowls eat mainly seeds, roots and bulbs but will opportunistically feed on small insects as well. They are not fussy eaters and will often scratch through the of large mammals to find seeds!
Breeding
This is a ground-nesting species where the eggs are laid in a shallow indentation carefully lined with grass and feathers. The female usually lays between 4 to 8 eggs which take approximately 21 to 25 days to hatch. Egg-laying can occur throughout the year but most often during the summer months. The female will defend her nest aggressively from any intruder. Natal Spurfowl are monogamous and pair for life.
Predators and threats
The Natal Spurfowl is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, but it is vulnerable to habitat destruction, particularly the destruction of grasslands for development purposes. As a ground-nesting species, this bird is also vulnerable to marauding dogs, and this is one of the reasons we appeal to all dog owners to keep their dogs on a leash when walking in a grassland.
Local information
As this is predominantly a grassland species, you will need to visit one of the few remaining grasslands in the Upper Highway to find them. The Msinsi Grasslands in Kloof has a small population.
Interesting facts
All Spurfowls have a backwards-facing ‘spur’ on their heels, hence the name Spurfowl. It is believed that these spurs are used when males fight each other to win a female’s attention.
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